• Home
  • About This Blog
  • Contact Me
  • Subscribe
  • Comment Policy

Attempts at Honesty

Reflections on the interplay of the Bible and Culture

  • Westminster Shorter Catechism Series
  • Sermon on the Mount Series
Home Bible Reflection On humility and hunger

On humility and hunger

Posted on January 3, 2021 Written by Mark McIntyre Leave a Comment


As you might guess from my previous post, I have been in need of some encouragement. While some aspects of my life have gone very well, and I am grateful for God’s blessing on me and my family through the COVID-19 crisis, God has allowed me to experience frustration with regard to churches in the area where I live.

This morning, I read this verse in Deuteronomy:

He humbled you by letting you go hungry; then he gave you manna to eat, which you and your ancestors had not known, so that you might learn that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

Deuteronomy 8:3 (CSB)

As I read these words this morning, I am encouraged by them.

First, I am challenged that the hunger I have felt for a healthy church fellowship should teach me humility. Rather than grumbling to God about my lack, I should realize that God has promised to sustain me until the end. And, I as I learn humility, I also learn that not all my ideas of how church should happen are correct. Perhaps some of my ideas are unrealistic and need to be abandoned.

Hunger teaches us that most of life is beyond our control. Realization that this is so should teach us humility. The fact that there is any church at all is a work of God’s grace. The church is the manna that God provides for our hunger for fellowship and encouragement.

Secondly, in Scripture, I have the very words of God that have been given to teach us the way to go. Also, the Apostle John teaches us that Jesus himself is the very Word of God. I have Scripture and I have Jesus.

As recorded in John 6, Jesus claimed to be the bread of life, thus indicating that the mana that the Israelites ate in the desert was a picture. Manna is to our physical hunger what the Word of God is to our spiritual hunger. Jesus and the recorded words of God in Scripture are sufficient for our spiritual nourishment.

I am encouraged that when I look to Jesus (and take my eyes off the train wreck around me), I have enough.

If you are encouraged by this post or would like to make a comment, please use the comment form below to offer your feedback. I enjoy hearing from you.


Filed Under: Bible Reflection

About Mark McIntyre

A follower of Jesus Christ who shares observations about how Scripture should impact the church and the world. Mark is the original author and editor of Attempts at Honesty.

Follow Attempts at Honesty

Honesty in your Inbox

Working together in ministry – No solo acts

If the entire church body is ministering together in the community, not only will the pastor influence the congregation, the congregation will influence the pastor. When this happens the congregation will “stimulate one another to love and good deeds,” (Hebrews 10:24)

Great Evangelical Recession

The Evangel in Evangelism

The problem is that it is much easier to assess quantity and more difficult to assess quality. But the difficulty does not relieve us of the responsibility to have this priority.

Street signs pointing to right way and wrong way

There is a way that seems right to a man

These verses should also inform us that because of our inclination to go wrong, a healthy dose of self-doubt regarding our ability to understand and apply the Bible is advisable. Our first parents displayed the ability to distort what God said and if we are honest, we will admit that we share this with them. It is our nature to hear what we want to hear and avoid the rest.

Church Sign

Jesus does not agree with this church marquee . . .

A picture of a church marquee stimulated thoughts on the exclusive claims of Jesus.

Two hands on the steering wheel

Humble and Contrite?

I don’t think that we can place too much stress on Jesus’ statement about the responsibility for building the church. It is his; he claimed the responsibility and the resurrection proved that he has the power to do it. Maybe we should spending more time in prayer asking him how he wants us to participate in that building than we do in building our own strategies.

Post Series

  • Westminster Shorter Catechism Series
  • Sermon on the Mount Series
September 2023
SMTWTFS
 12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
« Jun    

Categories

Archives

Blogger Grid
Follow me on Blogarama

Copyright © 2023 · Focus Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in