Soul Cravings Series

In Matthew 5:6, Jesus is pronouncing blessing on those who strongly desire to be in accord with what God requires of them, who desire to live the life that God is calling them to. Friends, is that you? Are you one who desires to be right with God? Be careful how you answer! It is not a question to answer carelessly. Most of us here this morning would likely say, “Yes, I want to be right with God.” But when push comes to shove, we choose the $20.00 bill over the life giving water of God.

What many of us have is a false hunger, a false thirst and so we find that while we like the idea of righteousness in our heads, the reality of it never moves our hearts. We find we aren’t willing to put in the effort to read God’s word on our own, or to spend time in prayer, or to bring our life into alignment with the Word of God. And we try to satisfy that need, that hunger, that longing that we feel within, with the empty things of this world, and yet we’re never filled.

Do you know how to tell when you are hungering and thirsting after righteousness? I like how a pastor by the name of David Bisset has put it in one of his sermons. (David Bisset, Clifton Park Community Church) When you get to the place where, “Anything but God will not satisfy, and the soul will remain restless, until it finds it’s rest in God,” – that’s when you’re hungering and thirsting after righteousness. It’s when you’re willing to do whatever it takes to live in such a manner that your life rises up as a living sacrifice, a fragrant offering, to the Lord your God.

The truth is that we all hunger and thirst after things in our lives. It’s simply a way of expressing desire for something. But unless that hunger and thirst is for God above all else, we are never going to find, what we are ultimately looking for. If we want to satisfy this soul craving we feel we need to drink from the living waters and to eat the bread that feeds the soul. That’s why Jesus speaks to His disciples, of God the Father, and says, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33, NIV) Seek first – it’s a matter of priority.

That hunger and thirst for righteousness shows through in the choices we make; in the way we live our lives. Today there are four people here with us who are going to let that show through as they take the step of baptism. To seek righteousness is to seek to be in accord with God’s standard, with His will. Among other things the word of the Lord tells us to believe, to repent, and to be baptized. These ones have believed upon the Lord Jesus as Lord and Savior, they have repented of their sins, they are seeking after the righteousness to which we are called and today they will declare their faith, take their stand, as they are baptized in accord with that same righteousness that is spoken of in Matthew 5:6.

In a few minutes we are going to hear their testimonies – of what has brought them to this day and of how God has moved in their lives. But first I want to challenge you – and be honest with yourselves – what is it that you are hungering and thirsting after? How are you seeking to satiate that hunger and quench that thirst? If it’s in anything but God you will never be filled; you will go through life seeking for something that you cannot find and never knowing the blessing that Jesus is talking about. Hear again the invitation of the Lord, Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live.” (Isaiah 55:1–3, NIV)

Let’s pray …