Hunger, Pt. 2- The Eliminator of Fear or Reason

As I continue on with my journey of learning how hunger can relate to my faithand my pursuit of Christ, I've been reading about how hunger has affected peoplein the Bible. In doing this, I notice one common denominator- hunger is an eliminator of fear or reason.

Hunger caused Esau to sell his birthright to his brother Jacob for a bowl of soup (Gen 25). Without reason, Esau reduced his birth right- a promise to be prosperous, blessed with many children, and to bless nations- to nothing more than soup. Esau could have bought many bowls of soup and if he would have waited a little longer, I'm sure he would not have been skipped over at the dinner table.

Immense hunger caused a woman to propose a deal with her neighbor to boil and eat their sons (2Kings 6). This story causes my heart to weap with great sorrow. A child lost his life to the selfish nature of his hunger-driven mother.This poor child was reduced to a meal arrangement between two neighbors. Even worse, the mother did not weap for the loss of her son, she weaps because her neighbor wont give up her son to be eaten.

Four leprous men sat outside the city gates, filled with hunger. As they talked amongst themselves,they explored their options. They could stay outside the gates and die of hunger, they could enter the famine-filled city and die of hunger or risk their lives by going into the enemies' camp where there was plenty of food. With no fearof death, they chose the latter. In the end, they were victorious and took food back to the starving city and shared it with others (2Kings 7). These four men allowed hunger to eleminate their fear but not their ability to reason.

What will you allow your hunger to motivate you to do?

Hunger- The best seasoning.

It has been said that hunger is the best seasoning. Anyone that has ever missed several meals can tell you that this statement is loaded with truth. Now, there is no actual seasoning called "Hunger" but it simply meanswhen you become hungry enough, ANYTHING tastes good.

As my wife and I were in the midst of a 21 day fast, we were both sitting at the dinner table sipping broth. We both agreed that the vegetable broth was THE best meal we had ever tasted. This got me thinking, "I wonder how hunger relates to God's word and to us spiritually?"

The Bible says, "Blessed are they that hunger for they shall be filled" (Luke 6:21). If you notice, it never said we will be filled with what we want or desire. I believe this means we will be filled with what we need.

Here's the awesome part- if we are truly hungry, it doesn't matter what the food tastes like. We could nosh on something sweet, salty or what we might otherwise find hard to swallow and we will eat it with gladness because it is what we NEED.

-JM

The Perception of the Cross

I have often said that people live out and react to the reality of their perception. I say it in reference to what ever we perceive or believe to be our reality is our reality, whether or not it is true. Our view point affects how we receive information, ideas and concepts. It is for this reason two people can look at a painting, listen to music or even read a scripture out of the same Bible and find two different meanings.

Often times our views are greatly affected by how we are feeling- either good, bad, happy or sad. As I look at this concept in regards to the cross I have realized that it has had more than one meaning in my life. Depending on the day it is a symbol of suffering, death and crucifixion. It represents the sacrifices that we must make in life. The surrendering of our wills and the destruction of our human nature. Other days, it serves as a symbol of life, redemption, love, commitment, obedience, grace and mercy. It reminds us of God's power to heal, restore and deliver. It stands as a symbol of victory and freedom.

Though my perception of the cross is always based on the circumstances I am faced with in life, its reality holds true in my heart. The reality is it means all of those things. To them that believe we welcome both because we have learned that in both we find life.

If a man shall lose his life he will find it.

-JM