Are You Hungry?

 

Introduction

In Matthew 5:6 Jesus said, Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. This is part of the beatitudes which is the beginning of what is known as the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7).

A statement like “those who hunger and thirst are blessed” seems odd. But, looking at the verse, it states that they hungered and thirst for righteousness. It’s definitely different from a physical hunger or thirst.

In this article, we’ll look at some spiritually hungry people.

 

Our Gospel Meeting

   Last week we held a gospel meeting with Tom Thornhill, a visiting preacher from Bellflower, California. This was our first meeting since February 2020; right before the pandemic struck. Although our congregation continued to meet weekly throughout the next two years you could sense that something was missing.

It's not that we weren’t doing what is commanded of us, worshipping God and seeing to the needs of the brethren. It was the fellowship of other brethren from other congregations that was lacking. Grant it, a lot were communicating with one another online but, the physical presence of your brothers and sisters is unparalleled.

With a gospel meeting, not only do you enjoy the fellowship of a visiting preacher, but it encourages those from local congregations to turn out for the entire week of preaching. It’s an opportunity to meet new people and reestablish friendships with those you haven’t seen in a while.

 

A Lot of Hungry People

Someone stated that we’ve had more visitors for this meeting that than the last several combined. I remarked that because of the pandemic, people don’t want to venture out as often for fear of illness.

With the absence of these meetings, the desire was very strong when we were able to resume holding them. Many showed up nightly desiring to be fed with solid food of the gospel (Hebrews 5:14).

It somewhat reminds me of the statement God made to the Northern ten tribes, “Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord GOD, “That 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, seeking the word of the LORD, But shall not find it.” (Amos 8:11-12)

Not wanting to take this verse out of context, this was referring to those who were to be led away in captivity; a “too little, too late” attitude when those who disobeyed God and suddenly wanted to get right and were lost in the process. The same thing happened to Judah when they were carried off into Babylonian Captivity.

You kind of get that sense when crave a gospel meeting but are unable to attend, or hold one, because of obstacles that get in your way. Listening to other preachers online can only sustain an individual for so long. That’s why physical presence is so important.

As it is written in Hebrews 10:25, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

 

Conclusion

Online worship services will never take the place of worshipping in person and, although some can’t get out anymore; sickness, age, or infirmities, the need for physical touch and presence is paramount in the body of Christ.

If you missed this, or any other meeting, check out the Gospel Meeting page of our congregation’s website. There is also contact information, available for each visiting preacher.