Empty vs. Full
"Blessed are those who hunger
and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." (Matt 5:6)
As Christians, we are all familiar with the "good day/bad day" phenomenon. One
day we feel "good" about ourselves, about our relationships, about our
friendships with God, but for some unknown reason, some days we just don't! Some
days we feel like we're overflowing with the fruit of the Spirit. Other days we
feel empty!
Just why is this? This doesn't fit in with what the Bible tells us! No, on the
contrary, the Bible tells us that those who are in Christ will be "filled"! Not
that they will feel "empty"! Remember the woman at the well (John 5)? Jesus told
her that if she drank of the water that He had to offer her, she would never
thirst again. She would be "full" of His "water!" In Matt. 5:6,
Jesus promises that those who ". . . hunger and thirst for righteousness . .
. will be filled." Paul also speaks of being "filled to the measure of all
the fullness of God" (Eph. 3:29) and "filled with the fruit of righteousness
that comes through Jesus Christ-to the glory and praise of God." (Phil 1:11)
What does all this mean? It means that despite what we are feeling, when we
accept Jesus into our hearts, when we "hunger and thirst" after righteousness,
we WILL be filled!
So why then, if we ARE "full", would a Christian feel empty? I believe that this
is but a simply play on our emotions by the devil. Remember that he is: John
8:44-45 ". . . a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the
truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from
his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it." If Satan can make
us FEEL empty, then he can DECEIVE us into believing that we ARE empty. When in
all reality, we are NOT! We are FILLED with the "fullness of God" and with the
"fruit of righteousness". But if Satan can make us think we're empty, he can
weaken our faith in God and in His promises.
So what do we do when we feel empty? Why not try praising God that those who
". . . hunger and thirst for righteousness . . . will be filled." Praise God
that we are filled with the "fruit of righteousness". Praise God that we
are filled with the "fullness of God!"
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be
filled." (Matt 5:6)
Love in Christ,
Lyn
Lyn Chaffart, Moderator, The Nugget, Scriptural Nuggets (
www.sermonillustrator.org/minisermons/ ), Answers2Prayer Ministries,
www.Answers2Prayer.org ,