Hungry And Thirsty

But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.

2 Corinthians 2:14-15 NIV

We all have had moments where we haven't had anything to eat or drink.  Some of us get irritable, and others start to wear down.  No matter what the effect, it all means one thing.  We can't focus on little else other than that feeling of hunger or thirst.  I was reading a prayer from St. Augustine. It was energizing as he was speaking about how his love for Christ had blossomed in his early 30s.  He said words that truly resonated with me.  As the prayer ended, it read, “I tasted you, and now I hunger and thirst; you touched me, and I burned for your peace.” There are times that I did not relate to God, and I felt lost. However, there was this moment where it all changed, and I suddenly felt alive.  It has continued to this day, and I could not imagine life without Him.

Our pursuit of God should be filled with passion.  As we know relationships take a lot of work.  There are days you are tired, and others where you are frustrated.  But when it is right, there is a level of positivity and connection that is unmatched.  In today’s verses, Paul points out that we are full-fledged possessions of Christ.  So if we are truly representative of Christ, others will be attracted to Him as well (i.e. spreading the aroma of the knowledge of him).  Having the spirit of God in us means there will be joy in our hearts that is infectious to others.  It might draw a smile from some, and others might even ask why you are so happy.  This is not to say that every day will be that way, but on the days where you are not, other people notice even more those moments when you are not connected.  When we have passion for following Christ, you will know God is wired into you.  And if we are not feeling wired, we must find ways we to reconnect with Him (worship, reading scripture, helping others, volunteering, touching base with a spiritual advisor, etc.).

God intended to have fellowship with us.  This means that we should have awareness of His presence at all times, and be wary when we struggle to have that connection.  God once said to Moses, “I will indeed do what you have asked, for I look favorably on you, and I know you by name.”  God knows us that way.  It is not to say He will look favorably no matter what we do, but He always knows of us.  Our goal is to pursue Him as passionately as St. Augustine did; to be touched and burn for His peace.  Let us not lose sight of that.  Where is your passion meter for Christ today?  What disciplines have you identified as things that increase your awareness of God?  My prayer is that we focus intently on God where we hunger and thirst for Him.  Amen. 

Obsolete Children

See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him.  Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is.  1 John 3:1-2

The other day, I read a silly quote that said, “Adults are obsolete children.”  That was written by Dr. Seuss.  I read Dr. Seuss books when I was little.  In fact, I can still recite my favorite quote from his book, ‘Stop That Ball!’  It said, “I whacked it high!  I whacked it low!  I whacked it so hard the string let go!”  There is a far greater lesson for me in remembering this other than a childhood memory.  It is a reminder that the innocence and joy I had as a child is something to aspire to.  It is important that I bring the exuberance, excitement, pure heartedness, and fun loving attitude about my faith like a child.  It is not because being a follower of Christ is fun and games.  Instead, it is knowing there is no better place than to be a child of the wonderful, majestic, and Holy God.

We are to embrace our role of children of God.  I love the letter in first James as today’s verse as it discusses our place as God’s children.  We have the knowledge of knowing Him intimately through His word and His Holy Spirit that dwells within us.  Are there times we will feel like we are in utter darkness and experience fear?  Yes.  Will we be tempted into sin and may at times fail?  Absolutely.  But as God’s children, we have the shining perfected example of our Heavenly Father, and this becomes our guide to righteousness.  We see Jesus as foretold in Isaiah 9:6 as the “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”  We take on His traits as born again through Christ.  Yet while we continue to grow in Him, we must not lose the child like joy in being with Him.  There is no greater love than Jesus Christ has for us, and to have it, we should feel comfort, peace, warmth, and that feeling when you have an abundance of everything you ever needed.  That’s what it is like to truly understand you are a child of God.

To be a child of God does not come with just personal fulfillment.  It requires us to act.  Jesus said, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)  The children’s gospel song “This Little Light of Mine,” simply says, “This little light of mine.  I’m gonna let it shine!”  As God’s children, we contain His light within.  We in kind must let it shine with brightly inspired by the energy all children possess.  What is taking away your child-like passion for Christ?  How can you better embrace the idea of being a child of God?  My prayer is that we go joyously in our journey of faith and not become ‘obsolete Children.’  Amen.