Thursday, October 2, 2014

Where I Don't Belong

Matthew 5:6 - Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

There is a song that we’ve done at FOTP for quite some time now called “Where I Don’t Belong”.  The bridge of the chorus says, “Everything in me yearns for everything in You”.  Our student/teaching pastor, Jamie Pope, told me one time that he never sings that line.  He told me that in his sinful flesh, he doesn’t believe that he can fully sing that line and mean it with all of his heart.  However, he said that he knew that one day, when he sees his Savior face to face, he will be able to sing it and with that glorious revelation he can sing the following line, “Hallelujah”.  

Theologically speaking, it is true that every part of us will not be able to fully long for Jesus on this side of eternity.  There is always a war within us between our revived spiritual side and the sinful nature that we were born with.  When Christ transforms our heart and calls us into a relationship with him, we begin that process of longing and yearning for all that Jesus is, to know him, to be loved by him, to be strengthened by him.  This verse in Matthew tells us that those who hunger and thirst for the pure and perfect righteousness that Jesus provides will be satisfied.  Jesus must be the primary focus of our thoughts, energies, and affections.  When we yearn for him, long for him, and pursue him, he will not disappoint.  He will open up the doors of wisdom, love, grace, might, and acceptance and welcome us in.  We will be satisfied in Christ.

I pray that God would place in us a great desire for Him.  David referred to it as a deer being parched and longing for water.  May we rest in the fact of knowing that God is enough.  Chase after Him, yearn for Him…and you will be satisfied.