“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” — Matthew 5:6, ESV
Hunger has the power to change perception. When someone is hungry, even bitter food can seem sweet. But when a person is full, even the richest meal loses its appeal. The book of Proverbs puts it this way:
“One who is full loathes honey, but to one who is hungry everything bitter is sweet.” (Proverbs 27:7, ESV)
This is not just about physical hunger—it’s a reflection of the spiritual condition of the soul. A soul that hungers for God is willing to embrace even the hard truths of Scripture with joy. But a soul that is self-satisfied—filled with pride, tradition, or spiritual complacency—will reject even the sweetest parts of God’s Word.
Scripture frequently compares the Word of God to honey, highlighting not just its sweetness, but also its eternal value and life-giving nature.
“My son, eat honey, for it is good, and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste. Know that wisdom is such to your soul; if you find it, there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off.” (Proverbs 24:13–14, ESV)
Honey in the Bible symbolizes:
King David echoed this when he wrote:
“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Psalm 119:103, ESV)
One of the greatest dangers to the Christian walk is spiritual complacency. When we believe we’ve “arrived,” when we view our denomination, knowledge, or religious status as enough, we lose our hunger—and with it, our capacity to taste the sweetness of truth.
This was the problem of the Pharisees. They had the law, tradition, and status, but they had no hunger for righteousness. When Jesus, the Bread of Life (John 6:35), stood before them, they rejected Him.
“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.” (John 5:39–40, ESV)
Like the Pharisees, we too can become so “full” of religious activity that we stop seeking the living Word.
A soul that hungers for righteousness will obey the Word, even when it’s inconvenient, uncomfortable, or countercultural.
Consider the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8. After hearing the gospel from Philip, he didn’t wait for a religious service or a ceremony—he acted immediately.
“And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, ‘See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?’ … And they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.” (Acts 8:36–38, ESV)
This kind of instant obedience is the mark of spiritual hunger.
When the Bible gives hard instructions, such as:
The “full” person makes excuses. They say:
But the hungry person sees even these commands as sweet. They don’t argue with Scripture—they submit to it.
Paul warned Timothy about this attitude in the last days:
“For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions.” (2 Timothy 4:3, ESV)
When God’s Word says one thing and your tradition says another, whom will you follow?
Jesus confronted this issue head-on:
“And he said to them, ‘You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition!’” (Mark 7:9, ESV)
Let us be people who hunger for God’s truth more than we cling to denominational labels, cultural habits, or religious customs. If God’s Word says to abandon image worship, we must obey—even if it offends our upbringing. If it says to dress with modesty and purity, we obey—even if it costs us popularity.
Why? Because we want heaven, not just religion.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” (Matthew 5:6, ESV)
God doesn’t fill those who are full of themselves—He fills those who hunger for Him. The question is: Are you hungry?
As long as you are hungry, keep eating honey—keep consuming the Word. But if you find yourself losing that hunger, be careful: nothing else will satisfy your soul.
“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” (Isaiah 40:8, ESV)
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” (Matthew 24:35, ESV)
Remain rooted in the Word. Stay hungry for truth. Don’t settle for tradition, popularity, or religious status—press in for righteousness.
“Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near.” (Isaiah 55:6, ESV)
May you always be blessed, you who earnestly seek the Lord.
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DO YOU KNOW THE TRUE GOD?
When the Lord first brought the Israelites out of Egypt, He did not find them perfect as He desired. This was because during their time in Egypt, there was no proper system for worshiping the true God (Yahweh). The Israelites had only a shallow knowledge of the God of Abraham. They carried vague traditions — that long ago, God appeared to their father Abraham and made many promises (Genesis 12:1-3). They had heard how God brought famine on the land and revealed future events to Joseph (Genesis 41), but they didn’t fully understand the nature or holiness of God. They only knew He was powerful and would rescue them from trouble.
As the Israelites lived for generations in Egypt without fresh revelation, their understanding blurred. They began to think of the God of Jacob as one of many gods, like the Egyptian pantheon (Exodus 32:1-4). They assumed that God could be represented by idols, as the Egyptians did. Observing that Egyptians sacrificed to their idols yet prospered, they wrongly concluded the God of Israel was similar — sacrifices could be offered without personal holiness or moral transformation.
This misunderstanding was common in ancient times. People often interpret God according to their cultural surroundings. For example, a visitor might expect a family to behave like their own but be surprised when customs differ. The Israelites’ mindset was similarly shaped by Egyptian culture and false religious practices.
God knew their hearts were not yet ready. This is why He led them through the wilderness for 40 years before entering the Promised Land (Numbers 14:33-34). The wilderness was a place of testing, teaching, and revelation (Deuteronomy 8:2). It was there God gave the Law — the Ten Commandments and other instructions — to reveal His holiness and character (Exodus 20).
After their miraculous deliverance from Egypt (Exodus 12), the Israelites quickly began to complain (Exodus 15-17). Why? Because they did not yet understand that God is holy and hates rebellion and grumbling (Isaiah 1:13-17). They treated Him like Egyptian gods — distant and powerless to respond to complaints.
They even made a golden calf to worship (Exodus 32), an act of idolatry showing their failure to grasp God’s holiness and exclusivity. They thought God could fail them, so they sought alternatives.
Their sins angered God because they showed ignorance of His true nature. They misunderstood that God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is not just another god, but the one true, sovereign, holy God (Deuteronomy 6:4).
It took a long time for Israel to learn this. When God gave them the Law, He declared Himself to be the only God worthy of worship and called His people to be holy as He is holy (Leviticus 11:44-45, ESV: “For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy.”). This call to holiness is central to the covenant relationship — God’s people must reflect His character.
Israel’s gradual understanding shows us how important revelation and obedience are in truly knowing God.
Understanding God in the New Testament
The New Testament continues this call to holiness. Believers are urged to prepare their minds, be self-controlled, and set their hope fully on Christ’s grace (1 Peter 1:13-17, ESV). They must not return to former ignorance or worldly desires but be holy in all conduct, because God who calls is holy.
Paul also warns in Romans 12:1-2 (ESV) to offer ourselves as living sacrifices and not be conformed to this world but transformed by the renewal of our minds, that we may discern God’s will.
Practical Application
You cannot say you are delivered from sin yet continue in idolatry, immorality, drunkenness, or blasphemy (Galatians 5:19-21, ESV). True conversion involves repentance and holiness (Hebrews 12:14, ESV: “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord”).
Worldly customs like immodest dress, obsession with appearance, and behaviors rooted in pagan or worldly culture contradict the holiness God requires (1 Timothy 2:9-10).
A Call to Repentance and Faith
If you want to walk with God, repent and seek true understanding. God cares about both spirit and conduct (James 2:14-26). Holiness is not optional for His followers.
Baptism by immersion in Jesus’ name is essential as a public declaration of your faith and part of your salvation journey (Acts 2:38, ESV).
In Summary
Prayer
May you come to truly know the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob — the Holy One who calls you to holiness and eternal life through Jesus Christ.