Tuesday, August 30, 2011

The Be(tter) Attitudes Part Four | Midwest Church of Christ

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?You?re blessed when you?ve worked up a good appetite for God. He?s food and drink in the best meal you?ll ever eat.? Matthew 5:6.

I love taking Gemma to her basketball and netball games. And at the risk of sounding like a biased and proud dad, she?s darn good at both those sports, quite often getting best on ground, even if ? especially if (it seems) ? her side loses the actual game. She just runs and runs.

One thing I have noticed is if you throw a ball on to the middle of a court or playing field, suddenly you will send these adrenaline filled athletes into a frenzy. They are hungry to win the ball. And that is what every coach likes to see.

Gemma has been identified by her netball and basketball coaches as being a naturally defensive player who is good at chasing down the ball, her opponents, reading the play and intercepting the opposition passes, meaning that she is usually put in Wing Defence and occasionally Centre (WD and C for those of you who know anything about netball). And Gemma has stamina, meaning she will easily run a full game of netball out for its duration.

If a player is hungry for the ball, they will usually end up getting their fair share of it over the course of a game. And usually, the better players who perform well are focused and will not be distracted by other things, such as sledging, or boundary line issues from spectators.

But isn?t the same true in life? If you are hungry for companionship, you will go out and look for it in some form or another. If you are hungry for attention, you will demand it. If you are hungry for material wealth, then money and the likes will become your focus. If you are hungry for God, He will become your pursuit.

The difference with having a hunger for God and Him being your main pursuit is that ?He?s the food and drink in the best meal you?ll ever eat.? ? Eugene Peterson, The Message. While Gemma might get her name in the best players list, or win a $50 voucher from a major sponsor, and perhaps even win a trophy, it?s not something that really lasts. While Jed may catch the perfect wave while out surfing, the ride only lasts as long as the wave does. While Reuben might get some air going over a BMX jump, he will be on the ground again in a second, and having to ride towards the next one. And while he may have caught a nice fish on the end of his rod a while ago now, the reality is that he has been luckless and fishless now for the last few fishing trips that we have been on together (joining the unenviable ranks of his Dad).

Too often we hunger for things that are fleeting pleasures only. But the pursuit of God?s life, joy, hope and kingdom is to pursue the best meal you?ll ever eat. It lasts forever. You?re blessed if you have worked up an appetite for Him, because you are certain to be satisfied. So just how hungry are we for God in this age of unending schedules and desires and other tasty treats? Is He your main pursuit? Are you hungry for Him? As the psalmist says, ?Taste and see that the LORD is good.? Psalm 34:8.

?You?re blessed when you?ve worked up a good appetite for God. He?s food and drink in the best meal you?ll ever eat.? Matthew 5:6.

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Source: http://www.midwestcofc.org.au/archives/the-better-attitudes-part-four/

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