“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.” Matthew 5:6 NIV.
Appetite is a natural response of the body and soul to a need for nourishment.
My thoughts today are about, “holy and unholy appetites.”
It all began in Eden’s garden. Read Genesis 1:11-12 and 2:15-17 NIV. In Eden, God provided abundant supply for Adam’s nourishment, but within clearly stated boundaries. Then sin disputed and desecrated the holy and it all went awry. Read Genesis 3:1-6 NIV. “When she saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food, and pleasing to the eye, and desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it and gave some to her husband.” We all know how that turned out.
For your further study, I find an intriguing similarity with this unholy trinity of Eve’s temptation, and the Devil’s three temptations of Jesus (Matthew 4:1-11 NKJV), and John’s three-fold warning to Christ-followers to be vigilant (1 John 2:15-17 NIV). John observed, “The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.”
An appetite is a good and natural thing. “A laborer’s appetite makes him work harder, because he wants to satisfy his hunger.” Proverbs 16:26 TEV. Whereas, an unnatural lack or loss of appetite usually signals an unhealthy condition. Appetite is a natural response of the body and soul to its need for proper nourishment. People try to satisfy their appetites in either healthy or unhealthy ways. Be wise; the world tries to influence and dictate your taste and pleasures. Read 1 John 2:15 MSG. Unhealthy ways may work temporarily but also unsatisfactorily.
Similarly, God created you with spiritual appetites, which people try to satisfy in holy or unholy ways. Unholy ways are always unfulfilling. The prophet, Haggai, said, “Give careful thought to your ways. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill.” Read Haggai 1:5-6 NIV. As your body has natural appetites of hunger and thirst for food and drink that nourishes and satisfies, so does your soul.
As your body depends for its nourishment, health, and strength from the earth, so must your soul rely upon Heaven. Heavenly things do not nourish the body; they are not suited to its nature. Equally so, earthly things cannot nourish the soul for the same reason. “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4 NIV. The Word of God satisfies the soul.
Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled.” Matthew 5:6 NIV. I like Today’s English Version, a contemporary translation, “Happy are those whose greatest desire is to do what God requires; God will satisfy them fully!” Taste and desire are learned. The psalmist David encouraged, “O taste and see that the Lord is good.” Psalm 34:8 NKJV. After the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fish to satisfy the hunger of a multitude of thousands, Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me will never go hungry, and he who believes in Me will never be thirsty.” John 6:35 NIV. With Jesus, satisfaction is guaranteed. Read Isaiah 55:1-2 NIV.
Today, I pray for you to nurture appetites that honor God and draw you closer to Him.
Christian Communications 2016
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