Marks of a Disciple 2: Hunger

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for right living, for they will be satisfied. Matthew 5: 6

Jesus taught what is known as the Beatitudes or the Blessings, to start off His Sermon on the Mount. I love that He began this teaching by defining what it means to follow Him in such a positive way, not in a condemning way!

The follower He described is someone who is humble spiritually, who connects with those who are sad and full of grief, and does this in a gentle way that is full of mercy. This person loves everyone and seeks peace for others. And he or she desperately hungers to be right with God in the way they live, no matter the sacrifice. They have a view of the big picture of the kingdom of God constantly in their mind, peopled with those who are blessing others in all these ways (Matthew 5: 3-9).

John MacArthur describes hunger this way: “A starving person has a single, all-consuming passion for food and water. Nothing else has the slightest attraction or appeal.” I know that we aren’t really starving ourselves during our fasts, but this kind of hunger and thirst and passion is what Jesus is describing. A desperate hunger to be right with God, no matter what sacrifice He asks of us. Fasting is a tool to experience hunger. It is just the beginning, the tip of the iceberg, and an introduction to what fasting can do for us spiritually.

Jesus connected passion and satisfaction. But fasting is not necessarily about feasting on the results of the fast when it is over. It’s more about jump-starting a growing desire and resulting focus that allows God to bring about more permanent hunger and change within you. It is about developing good habits that become unquestioned. Each of us as a follower of Christ will change, and we can then begin to believe in change for the world we live in.

On a scale of 1-10, how would you measure the amount of hunger you feel towards God and right living?

Looking at the big picture of your life, how satisfied, fulfilled or happy do you feel?

What one thing that is a characteristic of a follower of Christ described in the Beatitudes might God be asking you to grow in (Matthew 5:3-9)?

Blessed Jesus, I want to hunger for You and be Your gentle follower. Show me how to be merciful in thought and deed. Impassion me with Your love for all Your children. When I lay my head on my pillow at night, I want to be satisfied that I have sought You all day. Amen.