If you ever doubt that people are hungry and thirsty spiritually, just look at social media. I am on social media. I am like an old dog learning new things. I am still trying to figure out Facebook and Instagram, but I am trying. However, I have noticed a problem with this medium. People are voicing their desperation and anger and real thoughts about people on social media. I recently found out that my church has been rated by this medium. We are 4.75 on social media. Now, this might seem good. But I am embarrassed and dismayed that people rate the church this way. It breaks my heart that the church is subject to the same marketing as businesses. The church is about Christ. The church is where imperfect people gather and allow the Great Healer to fix them. It is where starving people come to be fed with the Bread of Life.
But they have to come to Him. “On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” (John 7:37-39) Our hunger as believers determines the quantity and quality of the meals in the kingdom of God. If we stay hungry, God will fill us up. God will lavish His Grace on us in disproportionate ways to feed us. If we stay hungry, we will find ourselves like David, singing:
Bless the Lord, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. (Psalm 103:1-5)
David, as he filled up with God, began to see things that would happen in the New Testament. He was supernaturally taken places he would not have been able to access or see in the natural. He was able to get things he shouldn’t have received—he was hungry and worshipped God. Before Christ came, David obtained the Grace of God through the forgiveness of sins. He understood that the greatest feeling in life is having our sins forgiven. Have we forgotten that the Grace of a loving God that forgives our sins is magnificent? Oh, may the Spirit of God renew that fact.
