"Gasping for Air"

EPISODE 240

Series: Cross Training • Lifelong Learning: Hungering & Thirsting

Want God’s Goodness and Righteousness

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A man came to a great teacher, wanting to become his student. When the teacher walked away, he followed him out of town to a lake. The teacher continued walking until the water was waist-deep. Then he turned around, put his hands on the prospective student's shoulders, and shoved him underwater with all his might. The man struggled until, at last, the teacher released his grip, and he came up, gasping for air. "When you want wisdom as badly as you just wanted to breathe," the teacher said, "you'll be ready to learn, and I'll teach you."

We're Cross Training to develop our lifelong learning, the last of twelve marks of the Master we've worked on this year. Lifelong learning comes when we follow Jesus as disciples, hunger and thirst after righteousness, examine ourselves, and seek out wise counsel. So what are you thirsting for, and how do your longings and desires give shape to your life?

What You Need to Know

If you've had a hungry baby in the house, you know all-too-well what Peter means when he says to "long for the pure spiritual milk" like "newborn infants" (1 Peter 2:2). I don't know if I've ever wanted anything as badly as a hungry newborn wants milk! But Peter gives two reasons to summon that kind of single-minded desire within ourselves. First, just like a baby knows they like the taste of milk, Peter says that we'll thirst for spiritual milk if we've "tasted that the Lord is good" (1 Peter 2:3). God's goodness leaves us hungry for more — everywhere that we encounter it. And second, we long to "grow up into salvation" (1 Peter 2:2).

Jesus gives assurance to "those who hunger and thirst for righteousness" when he promises "they shall be satisfied" (Matt. 5:6). As we see our part in the world's brokenness, we hunger for upright hearts, integrity, love, and for godliness to characterize our every thought and deed. When we cry out to God, wanting him to reign in us, Jesus says we'll "be satisfied" (Matt. 5:6). What a comfort!

Where do we get the idea that following Jesus comes easy? Jesus sure wanted us to see the opposite! Once, someone asked him, "Lord, will those who are saved be few?' And he said to them, 'Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able'" (Luke 13:23-24). So strive — keep "straining forward" (Phil. 3:13) like athletes giving every last ounce of effort because they want it so badly (1 Cor. 9:24-27).

What You Need to Do

Surround yourself with people that value the same things. Some people have a contagious passion that you can't help but catch when you spend time together. A zealous brother or sister can stoke the fire within even the strongest among us. Paul told his friend Philemon: "I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you" (Philem. 7).

Feast on the word. When God called Ezekiel, the Lord gave him a scroll and told him to eat it (Ezek. 2:8-3:4). "Then I ate it," Ezekiel says, "and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey" (Ezek. 3:3; cf. Rev. 10:9-10). God wants us to take the written words into ourselves and make it a part of us. Find in God's word both bread to sustain (Matt. 4:4) and honey to enjoy (Ps. 19:10). As Jeremiah said, "Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart" (Jer. 15:16).

Examine yourself to know what you really want (John 1:38). It's a helpful question — sometimes painful — the more we honestly search ourselves (Ps. 139:23; 2 Cor. 13:5). Why do you do the things you do? What do your choices reveal about how you've ordered your priorities? Where do you rank comfort and ease? Do you long for fellowship with the Lord? Jesus says we can change what we find by changing what we seek in our life: "seek, and you will find" (Matt. 7:7).

Through the Week

• Read (Mon) — Matt. 5:3-12; 7:7-8; 1 Peter 2:1-3; Ps. 19:1-14; Prov. 2:1-11
• Reflect (Tue) — What do I really want?
• Request (Wed) — "O God, I thirst for you. May I look upon you" (cf. Psalm 63:1-2).
• Respond (Thu) — Schedule some time with someone you consider zealous for Christ.
• Reach Out (Fri) — What has this year left you "hungry" for?