Right Desires (4 of 8)
Series: The Attitudes that Bless: The Beatitudes
Terry J. Hallock
Matthew 5:6
October 8, 2000
In this Beatitude Jesus looks directly at our desires and describes the only one that will bring us fulfillment and satisfaction - a hunger and thirst for God.
Every human being is created with desires, those inner yearnings the dictionary describes as "a strong wish". While those "strong wishes" can range from a simple hunger for chocolate cake to a megalomaniac's thirst for political power at any cost; the most basic desire of every human heart is a hunger and thirst for security. Without exception each of us has a burning desire to know that we're all right now and will be all right tomorrow.
Yet as fundamental to our nature as our desire for security is, it can be a dangerous thing for in seeking to find it we can be led into temptations and deceptions that can put is in bondage or even destroy us if we're not careful. James 1 says, "When tempted, no one should say, 'God is tempting me.' For God cannot be tempted by evil, no does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death."
Our desires only become what we feed them. They become what the character of our spirit has made of our heart. If a spirit filled with sin has shaped our heart then our desires will hunger for sin. If a spirit filled with God has shaped our heart then our desires will hunger for God. A heart that hungers for sin will reap the reward of sin -- death. A heart that hungers for God will reap the harvest of God -- life.
That is why Jesus proclaims that only those who hunger and thirst for "righteousness" will find fulfillment, contentment and security. Righteousness means nothing less than a right relationship with our Creator. Until the created (that's us) are in harmony with the will, the pu ...
Series: The Attitudes that Bless: The Beatitudes
Terry J. Hallock
Matthew 5:6
October 8, 2000
In this Beatitude Jesus looks directly at our desires and describes the only one that will bring us fulfillment and satisfaction - a hunger and thirst for God.
Every human being is created with desires, those inner yearnings the dictionary describes as "a strong wish". While those "strong wishes" can range from a simple hunger for chocolate cake to a megalomaniac's thirst for political power at any cost; the most basic desire of every human heart is a hunger and thirst for security. Without exception each of us has a burning desire to know that we're all right now and will be all right tomorrow.
Yet as fundamental to our nature as our desire for security is, it can be a dangerous thing for in seeking to find it we can be led into temptations and deceptions that can put is in bondage or even destroy us if we're not careful. James 1 says, "When tempted, no one should say, 'God is tempting me.' For God cannot be tempted by evil, no does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death."
Our desires only become what we feed them. They become what the character of our spirit has made of our heart. If a spirit filled with sin has shaped our heart then our desires will hunger for sin. If a spirit filled with God has shaped our heart then our desires will hunger for God. A heart that hungers for sin will reap the reward of sin -- death. A heart that hungers for God will reap the harvest of God -- life.
That is why Jesus proclaims that only those who hunger and thirst for "righteousness" will find fulfillment, contentment and security. Righteousness means nothing less than a right relationship with our Creator. Until the created (that's us) are in harmony with the will, the pu ...
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