What are You Hungry for?

Are you hungry? I am not talking about physical food that satisfies our taste buds and bellies. I am talking about what wakes you up in the morning. Is there something in your life, a dream, a desire, a longing, and hope that motivates you? Is there something that you have to do which causes you not to do something you really like to do?

For example, let's say you love to get together with one of your closest friends or spouse for a coffee or smoothie to simply be together. But, instead of doing what you love to do, you have this passionate hunger, passionate ambition that is more important then connection time with a loved one.

Some people have this hunger, motivation, drive, ambition to make more money. Others, it is success, power, climbing some corporate ladder, or experiencing some entertainment. For others, it is to do something great for Jesus.

Jesus declared, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." Matt 5:6

Hunger and thirst are some powerful words Jesus used to describe ambition, motivation or drive.

Many think ambition is not good. It leads to competition, greed, or getting ahead at all cost. Jesus explains that He loves to bless those who have this inner ambition, motivation, drive or "hunger and thirst." But, what is that inner ambition fighting for...selfish things or "righteous" things?

What are the right things of Jesus? What are the right things to prioritize your life around? What are the right things that wake you up in the morning? What are the right things that will cause you to cancel what you love to do, like coffee with a loved one?

Paul proclaimed his hunger and thirst in Rom 15:20 "It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known."

Jesus declared His hunger and thirst was "to seek and to save the lost." Luke 19:10

My wife and I never liked the taste of coffee. But, at age 40, my wife decided to try something new and for her it was coffee. There was a reason behind it. Many women, both Christian and those far from God, love to go to a coffee shop to connect. So, Jude learned to acquire the taste of coffee in order to join Paul's and Jesus' hunger and thirst, to lovingly befriend, serve, and offer Jesus to friends who are far from God in a natural environment: drinking coffee together.

Some thoughts on how to catch Jesus' hunger...

• Spend time thinking through Jesus' dream and mission. What would that look like in your life, your family and your church? God wants the whole world. Is your hunger too small?

• Set righteous goals. How many "coffees" do you want to have each week with someone far from God? How many heavenly parties do you want Jesus to start each month because of you?

• Sketch out your week and tomorrow. Who are you praying for and reaching out to?

• Meet with family and some friends at church on a monthly basis to see how all of you are doing. Never give up, even if you are rejected. How many times did Jesus get rejected?

 
What are you hungering and thirsting for? How is Jesus blessing and satisfying that hunger and thirst in you? Do you need to adjust your hunger and thirst? Do you need to adopt Jesus' hunger and thirst?

Praying for a holy fire to consume us in order that Jesus would unleash His blessings,
Pastor Chris

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