Hunger, Thirst, and Righteousness
- Jan 2019 Issue
In the Bible we encounter three kinds of faith: stomach-faith, signs-faith, and Word-faith. The people of Israel wandering in the desert only wanted the Lord to feed them. They constantly grumbled about the lack of food or its variety, and God gave them manna to test them (Ex. 16:4). In all four Gospels, crowds were following Christ because of the miracles He performed, while Jewish leaders constantly demanded signs as a validation of His authority. Both these groups failed the faith-test. God wants us to live not “on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord” (Deut. 8:3).
This month in Today in the Word, we’ll go on a journey from Genesis to Revelation to learn about righteousness and faith, and their metaphorical as well as literal connection with food. We’ll read about Bread from Heaven, true and false fasting, and eating to the glory of God. We’ll consider the deep meaning of the Lord’s Supper and rejoice about the end of hunger and thirst, of poverty and suffering in God’s kingdom.
We hope each of us will also examine our faith. Would I pass the faith-test? Why do I follow Jesus? Is He my life? We pray this month’s study will increase our hunger and thirst for righteousness. “Come, all you who are thirsty” (Isa. 55:1)!
—Elena Mafter, Senior Editor