Hungry

How amazing does learning get? In Christ, every bit of His Word opens up new vistas. Each time I comprehend, or even begin the approach to comprehend greater truth about God, His revealed Word, His church and everything else, the magnitude of His blessing increases. I mean there is more, richer, fuller blessing ’round every turn in this study. At the same time, it’s not any less or more than the blessing that was presented at the moment God had mercy on me, a sinner.

With Him, it always seems to be an already-not-yet series of effects. He laid on me all the promises of His Word on the day I came to Him. He’s faithful. Yet the depth and scope of God’s providence, which is His patience, love, forgiveness, discipline, peace, all that and more, increase as my eyes open further and the scales are lifted.

It’s like I’m a little duck in a pond. And the pond contains all that I see and comprehend. It’s all good, with the water comfortable and holding me up, the air preserving my life and so-on. And then, after a little while, I see another duck, and new parts of the pond. And the all good becomes all better. But I’m still a little duck without much perspective, and that bothers me. Of course. I’m just a duck, not too bright and growing more aware of it with each new experience.

Then I look up above me. There’s a flying duck. He’s off in the big blue sky. And suddenly the pond pulls back and I see even more.

That’s God’s Word. How it  works on us.

And it makes me hungry.

His protection is greater today than it was months ago. His love for me and my family is deeper and richer than it was years ago. His care for our helpless state is more thorough than ever. Not because He has suddenly decided to dispense extra, but because I’m learning. But isn’t that the same thing? I can rest more fully in Him because I realize Him more fully. So it really is greater blessing in installments, right?

Of course, as was very well put out to me last night, a painful expression of sin. I tend to look with scorn on the past environments and the inhabitants therein. I have become derogatory towards those “smaller” parts of the pond over there. And that says I am prideful. I need regular discipline. Deep work on my miserable self-righteousness. So that has to grow too.

The farther I realize my sin reaches into me, the more I hate it and the more I turn to my God to rend it from me. The more I see His faithfulness, grace and mercy, the more I hate my sin. It’s deepening the separation of old-me and new-me. I only wish it would go faster.

Which makes me hungry.

“Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied.”
— Luke 6:21

The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the testimony of the LORD is sure,
making wise the simple;
the precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the LORD is pure,
enlightening the eyes;
the fear of the LORD is clean,
enduring forever;
the rules of the LORD are true,
and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
and drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
— Psalms 18:38-19:11

Oh how I love your law!
It is my meditation all the day.
— Psalms 119:97

…that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
— Colossians 2:2-3