Our Greatest Desire

"To the extent we hunger for what They desire to give us, we will grow."

FIRST JOHN tells us God is love, God is true, God is righteous, God is light. All of these characteristics of Him are interconnected. Each depends upon the other. It tells us on repeat that Jesus is the Son of God, and Jesus is eternal life, the Word of life, and the Saviour of the world. We also learn the Holy Spirit is an “unction,” the anointing, and the witness of God. First John 3:23 says, “He that acknowledgeth the Son hat the Father also.” So in all of these we can describe the Father as well.

First John 5;7 says, “These three are one.” You cannot disunite them, but you cannot know them without seeing each One. To know them is our greatest desire, or it should be. I learned the voice of the Holy Spirit through writing. He guides me and teaches me. These are His Words, not just mine. I learned the voice of the Saviour through trauma. When I needed Him, He spoke. And I saw the face of the Father when He chose to speak to me. No eyes are kinder. No voice more gentle. I did not seek these experiences; they were given to me, and I share them with you so that you will hunger to know them more.

Spiritual hunger is mentioned in Jesus’ sermon, commonly called “The Beatitudes.” In Matthew 5:6, it states, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” The apostle Paul and the apostle Peter also mention hunger as the method of our spiritual growth, saying more than milk is required. The writer of Hebrews compares a diet of milk to being a babe in spiritual things, and this is, in another way, John’s teaching in 1 John where he speaks to often of showing God’s love to people.

“For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he Is a babe.” (Hebrews 5:13)

It is given as a commandment, but it is not meant to be a battle to do it. It should be part of our reaction now. God reacts with mercy and compassion from His great love, and we are filled with Him – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In us is God who sent His only Son, God who died for the world, and God who anointed Him. We should hunger to love to their extent. We should hunger to see love at the height, depth, breadth, and width they love. We should hunger to see love from their point-of-view. Hunger, desire it, plead for it. To the extent we hunger for what they desire to give us, we will grow.

First Peter 2:2 says, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere (unadulterated) milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.” Milk is necessary for the early stage of our lives, but we are not meant to live there. In order to become “skilful in the word of righteousness,” we must grow to the point of eating meat. We must stay hungry, and hunger comes from time in God’s presence. It comes from meditation, repetitive thinking on, God’s Word. It comes when the Word and the Spirit change our thinking. We’re no longer eager to do other things, eager for entertainment or activities outside of God, He is our heart’s desire. We long for Him as a deer pants for the water brook. We hunger to know His ways, His thinking. We desire to imitate Him, to rise to a new spiritual level, and from that point-of-view, we will not respond to people with anything but love.

God’s love is so much greater than we have any concept of. Even with our highest thoughts, we cannot reach the top of it. He loves the unlovely. The most horrible, despicable people are worth loving, in His eyes. Paul was a murderer. He thought nothing of it but called him to preach anyway. The thief hanging beside Jesus on a cross was convicted and condemned for his sins. Yet, Jesus gave him Paradise. From love comes unending patience because maybe if we waited longer, maybe if we were more gentle and less rushed, that one would see Him. Maybe if we listened to the Spirit, maybe if we knew His voice better, we’d say exactly what needs to be said and not stand there at a loss. Maybe if we’d say, “Here, Lord, send me,” He’d choose us, and we’d see the glory of God in their faces. In our own.

“Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.” (Isaiah 6:8)

Image by Eglantine Shala from Pixabay


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Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.suzannedwilliams.com
www.feelgoodromance.com