Former Blackout Artist

One day many years ago when I was a young soldier, my platoon was sent into the Georgia wilderness for a land navigation exercise. Another soldier and I were given a map, a compass, and two canteens of water each before being dropped nearly ten miles from our objective.

It was one of those hot southern summer days. Within an hour, our uniforms were completely soaked with sweat. So we stopped for a quick drink, only to discover that my partner had left his two canteens in the back of the truck.

Thankfully we completed our mission, but halfway through the exercise our water was gone. Those last few hours were absolutely miserable! Heat exhaustion and dehydration were beginning to take their toll. I have never in my life wanted a drink of cold water as much as I wanted one that day! That’s all I could think about!

I recently heard a pastor say, “God has a lot of promises for the person who takes a seat at his table, armed with a healthy appetite.”

These words deserve careful consideration. A hungry man doesn’t need to be persuaded to eat, nor does a thirsty man need to be reminded to drink water. His need drives him.

So it is with the true Christian.

A genuine Christian has such a deep love for the Word of God that he must have it, he must read it, and he must hear it taught and preached. He understands that without it there can be no spiritual growth, no power, and no life.

The apostle Paul writes, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim 3:16-17). If this is true – and it is – then to neglect the Scriptures is to neglect the very means God has appointed for the health of our souls.

Honest question: Do we hunger for God’s Word? Is it our daily bread, or is it just an occasional meal? Do we open it because we delight in hearing our Father’s voice, or only when our conscience compels us?

A Bible left unopened is a sorrowful witness against its owner. A starving soul is often found where a neglected Bible lies.

If you have little desire for the Scriptures, don’t excuse it. Confess it! Carry it to Christ, and ask Him to give you a fresh appetite for His truth. Jesus not only gives us living water, but He also teaches His disciples to thirst for it. And those who hunger for the things of God will never find that He sends them away empty.