HUNGER PANGS

I Was Just Thinking About – HUNGER PANGS.

A group focused on World Hunger reminds us: In many parts of the world, people’s lives are impacted by hardship, illiteracy, inadequate health care, hunger and poverty every day. World Vision, Australia shares their perspective of World Hunger and associated needs in their report: In 3016, the United Nations estimates that 795 million people (approximately 1/10 of the world’s population) still don’t have enough nutritious food to eat each day. Fifty-two countries are facing unprecedented food crises. Poverty remains as the leasing cause of hunger, although many people are impacted by armed conflict and extreme weather conditions.

No one should denigrate or ignore world hunger or the accompanying poverty of millions of people. In like manner, there should be a concern for the increasing crises of spiritual hunger, illiteracy and poverty. The prophet Amos shared the Word of the Lord with the people of his day:  “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord God, when I will send a famine on the land - not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord. They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east; they shall run to and fro, to seek the word of the Lord, but they shall not find it” (Amos 8:11-12). While some might seek to deny these words, the reality of them is evidenced in the larger denominations of the USA and the deteriorating condition of many smaller churches that are struggling for survival.

Is there a remedy for the immediate spiritual need in the culture and our country? Jesus Christ stated it clearly when He said: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied" (Matthew 5:6). At a crucial moment in human history, there was a renewed hunger for hearing the Word of the Lord. The people had become desirous of knowing whether or not God had answers for their needs, problems or guidelines for their lives. The scene is Jerusalem. The people had asked the priest, Ezra, to bring the Law of God to their attention and read it to them (Nehemiah 8:1-8). The passage indicates that the people stood and listened from dawn until noon. For too long of a period of time, they had ignored and suppressed the Word of the Lord as a meaningful part of their lives. 

Question: Does our nation need to pay attention to its spiritual hunger need and pangs? The nation knows it has needs. It also knows that God and His Word have been ignored. We need to reverse course and seek the Lord while He may be found. Prayerfully – Consider these things with me!