A BLESSED HUNGER by Rufus A. Underwood

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · May 11, 1915

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 42, No. 19.

A BLESSED HUNGER

By Rufus A. Underwood

A Longing That Will Be Satisfied—Strong Growth Assured—They Will Be Filled

By Rufus A. Underwood

This is the fourth of several short articles by Elder Underwood on the fundamentals of the gospel as set forth in the Sermon on the Mount. Each article is independent, and complete in itself, and you will enjoy it whether you get to read any of the others or not. Editor.

“BLESSED are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Matt. 5:6. This brings us to consider the fourth step in Christian experience. Those who have tasted of the good things of God, and of the powers of the world to come, find a growing appetite created, which longs for more.

HEALTHY GROWTH OF DESIRE

The student of science who pursues a certain line of study soon finds his desire for more knowledge greatly increasing. So it is in spiritual things. All the Bible illustrations of the new birth and the growth and development of the Christian life, present a constant advancement in knowledge and power.

The idea that the Christian is to realize in his first experience the greatest achievements of joy and power, is too suggestive of the bumblebee. That is largest when first hatched. Those who “hunger and thirst after righteousness” “shall be filled.” David said: “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after Thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God.” Ps. 42:1, 2.

WILL SUP WITH HIM

Christ, the great Teacher, stood before the multitude, and said, “If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink. . . . This spake He of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive.” John 7:37, 39.

Again the Saviour says: “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.” Rev. 3:20.

All these expressions and invitations show that God will meet the desires of the human soul in granting the power needed to conquer in the battle against evil. The promise to those who hunger and thirst is, “They shall be filled.” The last words of Christ on earth to the early disciples were, to “tarry” until they should receive power from above: “And, behold, I send the promise of My Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” Luke 24:49.

YOU SHALL RECEIVE POWER

Again Luke, in writing the book of Acts, refers to Christ’s parting words in this manner: “And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith He, ye have heard of Me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. . . . But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight.” Acts 1:4-9.

HIS LOVE SHED ABROAD

By the power of the Holy Spirit, the heart is changed, and divine love is planted in the soul; for the apostle says, “The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” Rom. 5:5. The Holy Spirit is the divine Comforter, to sustain, support, and cheer the believer amid disappointment, and amid suffering and death. He is the agent who makes the sacrifice of Christ effectual to cleanse and sanctify the believer. “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Cor. 6:9-11.

THEY SHALL BE FILLED

“Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled,”—filled with the love of God; filled with faith and courage; filled with boldness to meet the world’s cold frown; filled with loyalty to the word of God; filled with unconquerable love for dying souls; filled with power to serve, suffer, and die for Christ; and filled with power to stand unmoved by human friend or foe in the hour of crisis; filled with joy and peace that will know no end; yea, filled with the life of Christ, as expressed by the apostle Paul in these words: “That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end.” Eph. 3:16-21.