Hunger

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”                                                                         Matt. 4.4

Jesus was led into the desert by the Spirit of God. There He was tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights. He was therefore extremely hungry when the tempter encouraged Him to turn stones into bread. His response is quite extraordinary. He resisted the temptation. He was looking for something more satisfying than mere bread.

Jesus advocated living on every word that comes from the mouth of God. I am reminded of the times when I’ve heard said such things as, “They live on his every word.” It suggests a hunger to hear from that particular speaker. What he/she says is of such import that people, literally, “hunger” to hear them.

Hunger can manifest in a variety of ways. Obviously, I can hunger for food. I can also hunger for the company of my favourite people, for the pursuit of my most loved pastimes, or for the improvement of my standard of living.

What ever I may hunger for, let me remember Jesus’ response at this time. He would certainly have been hungry after forty days and nights without sustenance. Yet His appetite was more focused on obeying God’s voice that it was on receiving bodily nourishment. May I, like Jesus, “hunger” to hear my heavenly Father speak and to do whatever He might ask of me.

Loving Father,

Again my Lord Jesus shows the way. In the extreme of bodily hunger, His focus is on You. Please lead me in similar manner.

Your word encourages me to ask of You. I ask now for a hunger for every word that comes from Your mouth. I ask that You would speak of many things to me, and that I will hear, and willingly respond to, all that You would tell me. I thank You for Your love. I hunger to hear Your words.                  Amen.

My book “God Talk” is available through major Internet booksellers.

A taste of the book's content can be seen in the You Tube clip (Search: Peter Francis - "God Talk").

looking for…

“Don’t be alarmed,” he said, “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.”                                  Mark 16.6

On that first Easter morning, the ladies were looking for Jesus. They knew what they were looking for. Jesus had been crucified. These faithful ladies were looking for the dead body in order to anoint it with spices.

Today many people are searching for Jesus but, unlike these faithful ladies of yesterday, they don’t exactly know what they’re looking for. They’re in search of salvation, but don’t realise that it will be found in only one place - the heart, and through one person - Jesus Christ.

Just like Mary Magdalene, Mary and Salome, today’s seekers need to hear the words, “He has risen!” He has risen indeed. Sin and death have been conquered and the way to the Father, and to eternal life, re-established. O, that the glorious good news of the resurrection might ring out anew and afresh. May tired ears be opened to hear and may hardened hearts receive God’s revelation, and be softened!

Mighty God,

We all need to remember those amazing words of “He is risen!” and to comprehend the enormity of this event and what it means to us. It is earth-shattering and life-changing. May it never become stale or powerless.

I pray for all people, but my prayer today is especially for those who need You but don't know it. I pray for holy “suddenlies” in the lives of many people. May this be the time for You to draw them to You.

Righteous Father, I ask that You touch the world afresh. Pour out Holy Spirit presence and power. Let many, many see the reality of the glorious resurrection and know the truth of it for their own lives.

Bring the lost back to You, in Jesus’ name I ask.                 Amen.

Why?

And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, Lama sabachthani?” – which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”                      Mark 15.34

Theses are perhaps the most poignant words in the whole of the Holy Scriptures. The God Man is hanging on the cross paying the price for the sin of all humanity. The suffering is intense, extreme.

Jesus spent so much time with the Father. We are told that He did nothing by Himself, He did only what He saw the Father doing. So many times He left the crowds to withdraw to a quiet place where He could commune with the Father. His connection with the Father was absolutely everything to Him.

And now that connection is broken. My sin prevented Jesus from connecting with the Father in this most dire moment. My sin caused the Father to forsake His only, and much loved, Son.

The disciples had all deserted Jesus (14.50). This surely would have been so difficult to bear. But yet, there was the Father! The Father was always there. Remember the times of leaving the crowds behind and joining in sweet one-ness with the Father.

The weight of sin, rather than the beatings and the cruel nails, is what caused the agony and begins to drain the life away. And then, the Father turns away. I wonder if the emphasis in Jesus’ cry is: “…why have You forsaken me?” Perhaps He could excuse human frailty that caused His disciples to run. But He had always depended on the Father. The Father was always there for Him. Except for now. At this moment, the weight of sin – all sin of all time – would surely have registered in Him both the reality of humanity’s fallen-ness and the truth of His own sacrifice in reclaiming humanity from the clutches of sin. He alone carries the Father’s displeasure. Only God was capable of such a rescue. Yet, ironically God had to disown His own, for however momentarily or otherwise it might have been, in order to keep as His own all being of all time. We may be forever grateful for these heart-wrenching words “Eloi, Eloi, Lama sabachthani?” for they are the absolute guarantee of God’s words to us of:

                   Never will I leave you;

                   never will I forsake you.  (Heb. 13.5)

Holy God,

You gave Yourself for me. How can I ever thank You enough or repay You? And yet I continue to sin. I am tempted to think that I am in a “catch 22”. But these words break in and stir me out of any such maudlin state.  “Eloi, Eloi, Lama sabachthani?”

You have paid the full price. There is nothing more to be said or done. Except for those two seemingly inadequate words of “Thank You.” Sadly, I will continue to sin. I do not make this declaration in optimistic expectation, but rather in realistic comprehension. Yet Your word assures me that where sin increased, grace increased all the more (Rom. 5.20). You further tell me that Your grace is sufficient for me (2 Cor.12.9) I receive Your grace, Lord, and I continue to thank You and bless You that You care so much as  to bestow such grace, favour and love upon me.

I will never understand the extent and character of Your love for me. I can almost hear You say in response to this, “Don’t even try to understand. Simply accept.” Yes, Lord, I  accept; and in the simplest way possible – with an open heart and a yielded spirit.

Come, Lord, in Your gracious love. Fill me to overflowing with Your presence, for I open my heart and all of my being to You. Make me truly Your child. Let me know the wonder and joy of the Kingdom of heaven resident within me.

I look to the day ahead. I surrender to You and ask You to lead me forward. May we enjoy a day of deep and full communion.

Sweet Lord, I pray that You will enjoy me. I give myself over – body, mind, heart and spirit. Commune with me, I pray. Let us celebrate our eternal relationship in a day of sharing and caring. I thank You, and bring these thoughts and requests to You in Jesus’ precious name.             Amen.

No accident

A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross.      Mark 15.21

It could be tempting to see Simon’s introduction to Jesus as accidental. But I think not. I don’t believe that anyone’s meeting with Jesus is by accident. Jesus himself says, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.” (John 6.44) This suggests that the Father was pivotal in Simon’s role during Christ’s passion. Likewise the Father has drawn each one who believes, and will continue to draw the presently un-committed into life-changing relationship.

I see also that Simon had influence. He was father to Alexander and Rufus. I wonder what tales he might have related to his boys about his encounter with God. Most people have some measure of influence, whether they realize it or not. And simple story telling can be so effective. Like Simon may have done, we can share our Jesus experiences with a simple, “Guess what happened to me?”

To be drawn to Jesus by the Father, and to be able to share our story with others are precious gifts from God. May we wonderfully appreciate and use both.

Lord God,

I thank You, first, for drawing me to Jesus. I thank you also that I am not alone in this life. I know people. I am connected to them. Many that I know also enjoy relationship with You. I praise You for this.

I pray for those who don’t know You. May You use me in drawing them to Jesus? May I be allowed God-given opportunities and moments to share my Jesus experiences.

I love You so much and so want to share this. But not all will receive. I pray that You would lead me to those who are open, and bring the words forth from my mouth if necessary, or the actions from my being. Use me if and as You will, in Jesus’ name I ask.

                                                                                                                                    Amen.

My book “God Talk” is available through major Internet booksellers.

A taste of the book's content can be seen in the You Tube clip (Search: Peter Francis - "God Talk").