04/23/23 SEEK, HUNGER, THIRST

04/23/23 SEEK, HUNGER, THIRST

I have sought to live by God's revealed word and I have endeavored to teach God's word to my family and congregations. Sometimes God has taken us off the beaten path of typical ministry and churchman-ship. In the rapid and ever changing world since the 1950s I have sought to believe, live and teach the Christian faith consistent with New Testament revelation. Many of the changes I have had to deal with were not written in ministry books. I often found myself following the Holy Spirit and His word into situations that required desperate prayer and study. I was not given the luxury of honing my gifts and skills of preaching, teaching, pastoring. I was too busy seeking, calling on and following the Holy Spirit into new frontiers and confronting new forms of resistance in our society, government, economics, academics.
I have tried my best to lead my people in the light of God's word.

I have tried to teach them Biblical truths and spiritual principles.
This has been good for my own personal growth in knowledge and grace.
However, there is something that has not changed through all of these decades. Learning, understanding, memorizing Scripture is as essential now as it has ever been. (in some ways it is more essential now, but that is a different article).

I encourage young people to learn the word, memorize the word, hide the word in their hearts.
Don't fill your lives or your minds with the foolishness (pleasures, entertainments, amusements, wisdom, knowledge) of this passing world.

The New Testament calls us to be filled with the good things of God.

Hunger and thirst after righteousness, and you shall be filled.
Be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Be filled with the word of Christ.
Get to know the love of Christ that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Be filled with the knowledge of God's will, in all His wisdom and spiritual understanding.
Be filled with joy.
Be filled with goodness.
Be filled with comfort.
Be filled with the fruits of righteousness.