Hungry

So its about 11:00pm as I write this and I am starving.  I haven't had much to eat today and only had two pieces of pizza yesterday.  I am running low on energy here.  I am hungry.

What does it mean to be hungry?  When you hunger and your stomach is growling, is it easy to focus on the task at hand?  Do you ever try to do something very important on an empty stomach, or do you go eat before you take that big test so you're not distracted?  Most of us recognize hunger as an obstacle to working.  It is a sign that we are low on fuel and we need to "juice up" before going any further.  Just like you shouldn't go do something that's a big deal while you're hungry, you shouldn't drive a car that has no gas in it.  Why?  Because you may end up harming the car in the long run.

Our spiritual lives are the same.  We cannot live our Christian lives running on empty.  We can't go day-by-day starving.  God has a plan and purpose for every one of us and we can't, nor should we try to, fulfill that purpose when we're starved.

Christianity is not an obligation.  It is a lifestyle.  It is a 180 degree turn from who we were before.  And such a lifestyle doesn't work if your trying to drive around without gas.

So just as I am starving now, many of us are starving spiritually.  So STOP YOUR WORK.  Jonathan Edwards, the famous preacher once said "No one but God can do the work of God."  We are not a necessary part of this puzzle!  God invites us to tag along and experience the blessing of seeing Him work...and if we are too distracted by our rumbling stomachs, how can we notice the blessings?

My friends, feed yourselves.  Do not live the Christian life like some hollow obligation that you get nothing out of.  If you show up on Church just to check something off on your list that week and you're not interested in growing, don't show up!  Christians should not be starved people!  We should be constantly filling ourselves in the glory of the Lord!  And when we start to get hungry, we know its time to fill up on His Spirit.

Do not run this race on your own power.  Do not work on an empty stomach.  So next time you feel hungry or your stomach growls, stop for a moment and think about what you are doing with your spiritual hunger.  Are you suppressing it and running on empty?  Or do you stop what you are doing and fill back up?  Get into His Word, play some worship Music, fellowship with trusted Christian friends.  Satisfy that hunger and bask in His glory.  Only then, should you get back to work.

My challenge for tonight...are you hungry?  What are you doing about it?