It has been said...
"Mercy is when you don't get what you deserve..and Grace is when you get what you don't deserve!"

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A devotional musical video (slide clips with Bible verses) link submitted by my friend, Mrs. Joy Berrington. Thank you Joy!

Here we are now at July's devotional page, and I have come to this page with something of what I believe is an insight from the Lord, and for the first time in many years have decided to put it within a short story (so this is my first short story on the net, and could be the last!!) using a touch of humour. May God bless you, and thank you again for "visiting" my pages.

This month, the text is I Corinthians 6 v 19 & 20.

(by Shona M.Treasurer)

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body."

The pastor walks to the pulpit, silently setting his notes on the lectern, with serious expression, as the congregation hushes in anticipation of the main Sunday morning teaching sermon. A strong sense of expectancy fills the air and the atmosphere is 'electric'. He is, however, burdened with a somewhat heavy message which may not be popular not merely due to it's 'weight', but because of the subject matter. He can recall preaching it several times over the years, and a part of him wonders just how much of this kind of sermon actually hits home and how much is taken on board, and by whom. As he sits and scans his eyes over the faces reflecting the sun streaming in from the side stained glass windows, he notices the Sunday morning regulars, faithful, zealous, hungry, but rarely under 20. The variety Sunday morning crowd are a little different from the more youthful gathering for what is affectionately called "The Holy Spirit Knees Up", i.e. Sunday Evening Service where Hillsongs are sung with great gusto! Little do the young darlings realize, but they will be hit with the same message tonight, from all angles, not just via the preaching. Pastor will have a "captive audience" tonight, as Darlene Czech is in town and her concert is at the church...and she's leading worship!

This morning is a little more sedate as though the Lord is setting the scene for the high praises bound to happen later that day. His Presence broods over the gathering, and rests heavily on the speaker's shoulders. The pastor is physically weary, having got up at 4 am just to "be" with the Lord, in the still of the Summer morning...when the sun rarely sets. He goes out for a long walk...the streets are deserted. They seem to belong to him and Jesus. He sings quietly to God as he strolls along, his spirit buoyant yet also burdened at the same time with the Lord's heart on the message. Buoyant because he knows God wants him to preach it, yet the burden also weighs upon him in an unusual way as he wonders how best he can deliver it. He considers so many who have, in order to rightly aim for "user friendly/seeker services" can fall into the temptation of compromising the weight of the Word of God. He wonders just how he can convey today's "now" Word in a way that his congregants will go home challenged, but smiling, praising God and deeply touched by Him. He senses God whispering to him, "Son, don't worry...you'll know just what to say...and how to say it". He remembers sharing such a "sermon" with his own children when they were teenagers, and coming to be amazed that they actually turned out to be sensible, responsible, and honourable adults.

At 6.30 am he eventually comes across a coffee shop and in he goes with Bible and extensive notes (written with the sole purpose of not being bound by them, they're on paper and they are in his spirit) and quietly reviews them over a Tall Americano and a pinch of nutmeg and cinnamon, to do a final edit and then, finally, hands the matter over to God. At 8.00 am his wife is up and about when finally he walks in looking tired and happy, but rather relieved that the kids are grown up...no need to get the "kiddiewinks" up for church anymore! "Would you like bacon and eggs?" his wife softly asks, being conscious of interrupting his train of thought, but at the same time knowing the greater peril of his passing up the chance of cooked breakfast only to see her sit down and tuck in. Such would surely raise the plaintive, but loud indignant cry, "why didn't you ask me if 'I' wanted any!", thus earning the curt reply, "I did, dear, but you weren't listening", adding with playful facetiousness,"Your bacon's in the pig and your egg is in the hen!", meaning, "You want some, Honey, go get it yourself, I'm on strike!" Instead, she patiently waited for his eyes to unglaze this time since his regular far-away, pensive look was more serious than usual, though she could sense he was feeling very calm. She stands, leaning against the lounge wall silently studying his studious face as he gazed at his notes on the coffee table in front of him. "TC Dibble" the ginger cat lay purring rolled into a ball, chin up in the air, cuddled up beside him on his left. He reached his hand to gently stroke the furry throbbing bundle and smiled, breaking his intense facial expression. He was suddenly aware of being watched and smiled at. "Oh..you said something?". His wife answered, "You were a million miles away dear". "I'm sorry", he sheepishly replied, "What did you say?...."Oh...(smelling the bacon wafting into the lounge)...yes, yes, please, a full cooked breakfast and some Earl Grey?". As she disappears into the kitchen to rustle up something nice and tasty, but 'light', the eggs being 'sunny side up', the cat quickly awakes and jumps off the couch to catch up with her...hoping for some scraps, he wanders back to his thoughts and is already in his 'mind's eye' standing in the pulpit. The more he thinks God again whispers, "Son, don't worry...you'll know just what to say...and how to say it".

He elects to wear the black pin stripe suit, waistcoat, crisp white shirt, and his Austin Reed silk tie with subtle patterns. He wants to look sharp...it's a sharp message he has to teach. He wonders if it will come across to the people in the spoken word as fresh as he feels in his spirit. He hives off to the vestry and locks the door. Service begins in 15 minutes. On "sentence of death", does anybody disturb him in those final moments except in dire emergencies. Having already laid hands on the deacons and elders, and vice versa, when they laid hands on him and prayed for him half an hour before, he needs his own time..alone..with God. He kneels, removes his spectacles, and places his forehead on his hands as he leans against his favourite leather easy chair, "Lord, I want this to bless the people so much today even though it looks like it will be a heavy 'word'..what use is conviction without the blessing?", he asks. He senses the Lord gently chiding him, "that is not your concern", yet the Lord honours his heart because he is getting in tune with God for what is to be a memorable service...

"Great is Thy Faithfulness..." the band and singers sing. It sounds like an orchestra and the atmosphere in the sanctuary is thick with the Spirit of praise. The expected four knocks on the door gives him a jolt. "Alright, coming!" he bellows. Jumping to his feet, clutching case and Bible in hand, a quick comb of his hair and a precision straightening of the Windsor Knot which is already symmetrical. Sighing deeply, he shoots a glance at his favourite painting on the wall which never fails to raise his sights heavenwards.."over to you Lord" he whispers, and then swings the door open widely, as though to catch somebody bending over, peering into the keyhole, so as to say, "Aha! Gotcha eavesdropper!". No such luck as an innocent young lady, a single young mum hurries by, looking a little stressed, after depositing her baby in creche. He softly winks and smiles in a fatherly way to her, making mental note to take time to bless her in his private prayer time and to check his diary (booked months ahead!) for a slot whereby he may spend some quality time with her over coffee to discover how things are at home and with God. He swiftly turns and marches through another set of swinging doors, deciding this week to pass through the main hall where "everything" delightful happens in church life there...i.e. food and fellowship, Bible study, and all night prayer is conducted, just to catch the eyes of as many people in such a fleeting moment, "Good Morning! God Bless you!" he calls out as he grins at just about anyone and anything that moves as he passes through like a tornado, a dynamo with a message of dynamite.

He mounts the steps of the pulpit and sits. Peace descends. He becomes distinctively aware of the Smile of God on him. It is like "liquid Love", "Liquid fire" washing over him, and as a result, he finds it hard to refrain from smiling..."I have a hard message to preach and here I am sitting grinning at 'all and sundry' like a Cheshire cat!" he thinks, fearing he is perhaps being a little irreverent for the moment. Yet, in those final moments, in what is an otherwise perfect message in all it's doctrinal implications, it WILL convict where needs be, but the blessing...he sees it now...it's inherent in the that one line "you are not your own".

The worship leader and singers meander back to their seats, giving way for the sermon. The pastor looks proudly at them, with a deep thankfulness in his heart to God for them, that they will also be providing backing for Darlene Czech that evening. He is not the only one who has a busy day ahead. Anyway, he smiles at the crowd and not a few return the favour, as he opens his notes.

"Our text for this morning is I Corinthians 6 v 19 & 20, "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body." Suddenly he preaches this message in a way he has never done before, "You are not your own! It is not a threat, but is a fact, a promise, and a most comforting statement! It should convict you if you are in conscious sin before God...like it or like it not, if you are Christian..your body belongs to God...all that you are in soul, emotion, mind and spirit, also belong to Him completely, but when we consider all that God is, who He is, in essence...that being LOVE IN ALL FULLNESS, and when you add (if, indeed, you can add anything!) all His attributes and all that Jesus is, this is who has come to dwell in you..as His temple! We forget, friends, that we have new natures and it is those that He comes to infuse, enthuse, and enthrall! Why, when we realise who we are in Him, will we not want to do away with anything that would defile the temple of our lives? What a privilege it is that God has chosen to make His abode with man. Indeed, He is "Emmanuel, God with us".

The sense of Anointing grows as he speaks. He is free to underline the key principles of this Scripture with its weightiness that God will not stand for immorality of any kind to remain in His human "Temples", and yet thrills that he has been given a fresh insight to not only the blessing, but the utter necessity that God came to dwell in mankind as his Temples, when offered a willing heart by somebody. He hammers home the righteousness and holy aspect of this message, oft preached by him and others before yet, equally, exults in the blessing and speaks of how the Kingdom of Heaven can be expressed through a life so yielded, whereby the fragrance and Incense of Heaven exudes from by such graces and qualities as "letting our gentleness be evident to all". He then beautifully and sensitively marries the two aspects of holiness and blessing with the necessity that our bodies are Temples of the Holy Spirit, and speaks of the GRACE of God in the sanctification process to help us. He reminds his hearers that God always works from the inside out, and even before we have reached the perfection which will be ours in Heaven, God is so gracious that He sanctifies the Temple of our hearts and bodies even He may have only begun the PROCESS of sanctifying us (i.e. making us more like Jesus in nature).

Smiling, he casts a "knowing" look up and out towards the stained glass windows at the back uppermost balcony. In so doing he 'thinks' a prayer of deep thanksgiving to God. Under his breath he utters a most satisfied, "Thank you Lord" and disappears out the back door (he has a lunch invitation) while the ministry team come to minister to those who come weeping because they are experiencing a wonderful blend of conviction and inspiration, so touched by the Spirit of God, having heard the Word of God in such a way that they are wooed to a life of devotion and intimacy with God they never thought possible. As the team respectfully and gently pray, anointing with oil on foreheads and hands, many people are gently laid out on the floor by the Holy Spirit and those standing all know God is accomplishing a deep work within. Chains are broken, hearts are set free, those struggling with low self-esteem and besetting sin have had their sights raised. "Hope springs eternal", and above all, the people are reminded of the Love of God.

They spill out of the service into the busy streets which blaze with the early afternoon sunshine, dancing "on the inside" as they sense the Lord rejoicing and singing over them, "You're not your own...you've been bought with a price!", bringing to their hearts the deep knowledge that they are so precious to God. "I'm loved!" is their reply! "I'm loved, and I'll never be the same", many said with childlike gaiety as they hugged each other like 'there was no tomorrow'! A young lady called out to her friend as they parted ways, "Coming to hear Darlene tonight?" "You bet!" was her retort!

This morning I was asking the Lord for Scripture I could pray. It was one of those moments when even my Heavenly prayer language or a song wouldn't do. Sure, God knew exactly what I wanted to say, however, I "needed" to get said what I wanted said! Get it "out of my system", so to speak! Know what I mean?

Well, I opened my Bible and, I confess, did the usual 'unbiblical' flick through, meaning that I was prayerfully looking at random for something, anything, that mirrored what is going on in my spirit,and sighing in the process, hovering between a mug of tea and nursing a 'humdinger' of a headache which miraculously was beginning to lift. (You can read more about those Scriptures on the Guest Page). A couple of paracetamols and much silent prayer (too painful to even talk!) eventually did the trick.

At last I was on my feet, doing what I wanted to do all this morning despite the pain since 6am, and that was to simply praise. My whole body was having none of it (I don't suffer well!). Feeling positively ill, all I could do then was toss and turn. Then suddenly the headache lifted some and I became very conscious of the Presence of the Lord in the room. He was "present" for my praise and prayer. "Present" for....'my' praise and prayer? He always is..for all who call on Him. As I write the headache has only been a quarter there compared to this morning and "The Fragrance" and peace of the Lord's lovely Presence has been such a comfort and encouragement to me all day. Question: am I more special or more holy than anyone reading this page? Nope! I am your regular "Jill Bloggs" who, like you, is on an exciting journey with God. It is just that He wants to fellowship with me on the way! In fact, He was "there all the time" as the old song goes, but I failed to appreciate that before. The Lover of my Soul was there waiting for my company.."my" company. If that's true for me, then the same is true for you too.

We can think of a 1,000 reasons why we are not worthy to enjoy God's wonderful Presence and, therefore, keep our distance, but God doesn't ask us to. In the book of Hebrews we read that Jesus has gone through the "veil" for us, meaning that His death and resurrection have made a new and living way for us to enjoy God as Father, just as He does. It is good to remind ourselves that this is based on His worthiness, not ours. "Somebody say, 'Amen'!"

Last month, on my news page (the brief is still there further down that screen) I typed about experiencing God's Presence in such a way that I smelled the "Flowers of Paradise". It is a paraxodical thing that while God doesn't have favourites, He considers you the "apple of His eye" and so He has experiences of His Love that He wants you to have. Such help us in our devotion to Him. They provide revelation. The main source and rule of thumb in all such revelations, together with the prophetic is Scripture. This is not at all in dispute, but ours is a life"in the Spirit" with God. In order for us to have a "ministry in the Spirit" and to "minister the Spirit" we really must cultivate this life. I could 'kick myself' for the years I doubted God that this could be true for me. However, God is very gracious and forgiving and loves to give people a second chance.

I recognise that if I want to be effective in His Hands, I have but to simply come closer to Him, knowing that not because of anything I do, but in Christ and because God made me to be His habitation. As I wait upon Him my strength shall be renewed and who knows how He will use me. This is so true for anybody who hungers and thirst for righteousness and for the deep things of God, to be effective in outreach and in building up the Body of Christ (the Church locally and worldwide). It is as simple as that! When we get "religious", that's when we needlessly complicate matters. No, Jesus calls us to have a childlike attitude before Him. That attitude is teachable, open, and is full of wonder at God and His Goodness.

-------------------------------

Hello everybody! It's Shona here! Just as I was about to embark on my train trek to North Wales on Saturday 28th April for a week at Elim Conference, which has thousands attend yearly, I got to thinking about church! That's not surprising I suppose, well, Elim Conference (a report about Conference shall follow in June's edition) is hosted by The Elim Pentecostal Church, a worldwide movement which has churchplants in most countries - I shall have to dig out some more info' on that for you, to be more specific! For approximately 15 years I have been a faithful member of our local main Elim Church in Edinburgh under the ministry of Pastor Michael C.Epton who was a real spiritual father to me. Thanks Mike, and Yvonne your wife too for all your input over the years. The present pastor is Paul Meiklejohn. Recently he and the leadership received a vision to rename the church, "The Rock".

There are several Scriptures which refer to the rock, and it is worth doing your own word study on this subject as there are too many contexts in the Bible to mention here. I shall cite one, though, such as in Psalm 81, verse 16, "But you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you". What a wonderful Scripture, and I suggest is a promise for Edinburgh Elim, or "The Rock" to hold on to! In fact, this is what the Church of Jesus Christ all over the world should be to the world. More about that shortly! Last year over a period of a few months I experienced a pull to ECF (Edinburgh City Fellowship) one of the strongest reasons was a strong interest of mine in the prophetic, something this church moves strongly in. Surprisingly, my long dormant interest in the pastoral has revived as I have been seeking God's face. Part of this has come out of something quite simple which the Lord has been illuminating to me. Did you know, friends, that sometimes the best lessons are neither the painful ones or the glorious ones, but are quite simple...that even a child could understand? I said "sometimes"! This is one of those "sometimes". Here it is: if we seek God's face, enjoy His company, get into His Word, have a heart full of song towards Him, He will ALWAYS give us something to bless another with when we come into their company. Whatever your Giftings are from the Lord will come more to the fore in those times too.

The idea is that people, Christian or otherwise, should be able to tell if we have been with Jesus without our having to "blow the trumpet in Zion about it"! Jesus called us to shine, and shine we will if we have been with Him. It doesn't get any harder than that! It's as simple as that! You don't have to possess a PhD in Theology to discover that God will honour you that way in public if you honour Him in private...by simply being with Him, enjoying His company and finding that in the process He also enjoys your company! When God uses us publicly and when I say publicly, I don't mean necessarily standing up in front of large crowds, I also mean with one other person. It could be a family member, it could be your best friend, your cell/house group, your church, and yes, finally, those large crowds, it matters not who. Reinhard Bonnke says, "there's a flame for every head!". There is an Anointing for us as a result of seeking God through prayer, praise, and His written Word. The written Word is a vehicle for us to meet with Him together with learning ABOUT Him. the Word also keeps us on track. If reading great chunks of Scripture at one go doesn't appeal to you every day (but good for other days in terms of study) then use Bible meditation, i.e. a verse or two, a Psalm as part of your prayer can help tune into God. The point is that Scripture points not only to Him, but also tell us what He is like as well as about His ways.

These are just just some of the reasons why the Bible is crucial. It is a compass in the hands of the Holy Spirit... and ours when seeking God in truth. This leads to some closing thoughts on this month's devotion on the Church. I was just thinking today that everybody in God's church, any age group, any generation, at any time has a calling, a ministry, and we are all needed! Moreover, we are all wanted! It has been of some concern to me, but yet I realise such has some value in reaching specific groups in particular ways: the church which is represented as a "youth church", or a church which is more attended by senior citizens, or a church which attracts more of the 30 somethings (like me, myself, and I!). In one sense this concerns me only for the reason that in churches where there seem to be a conglumeration of one or two main age groups they may be missing out on the richness of having other age grouping influence and input. What I mean is this, and I base some of my thinking on Ephesians chapter 4. I invite you, please, to read verses 3ff. In verses 3 - 6 we are encouraged to "make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one Body and One Spirit - just as you were called to one hope when you were called - one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is over all, and through all in all." I qualify the above by stating that I do recognise that the Holy Spirit causes some churches to specialise in various ways, not least in ministering to certain age groups and it may just be that God draws some people to particular of churches for a season to accomplish something in their lives, such as maturity, and taking them onto the next stage in their development for use in His Kingdom. I am not an authority on this subject, lest any strong emotions be aroused by my opinion!

Church is one subject of which there are many different sides to the coin and, therefore, varying views. I happen to like churches that specialise also, however, my point is that sometimes some groupings can so easily feel left out, even though this is far from the intention of the leaders. It is not fair either to expect the leaders to be able to consider everybody at every moment. Someone once said to me since I am the kind of person who, by nature, tries to keep everybody happy (often missing it by a long shot - usually being 1,000 miles out!), "Shona, you can't please all of the people all of the time". I add, "so why even try!". Good advice perhaps, to the over zealous shepherds who are experiencing burn-out. God gives Gifts of men and women to His Church, all ages, some in the pastorate, the shepherding ministry, prophetic, teaching, evangelising, and apostleship (i.e. 5 fold ministry Giftings in Ephesians 4, "to prepare God's people for works of service" in verse 11) - the laity, which includes me and many of you presently, all have a valuable part to play.

Now, a strong word of challenge and encouragement to the older generations, and ( the older you are the more I ask you to listen up please!) The teens, 20's, 30's, 40's, and even the 50's need your input. Your wisdom, prayers, advice, not least for those of you who are prophetic, are much needed. Yes, we do live in a different day, and church is changing rapidly. Some of the changes I welcome and some not and others, well I'm not sure yet and such I "file in miscellaneous" meantime. Your counsel is both valuable and necessary if we are to hear God clearly as to how to proceed and allow Him to build His Church... His way.

For me, personally, to sit in the company and listen to an old saint who knows their God, His Love, Wisdom, and His Power is akin to finding the Pearl of Great Price. Us younger ones need to learn from you. You're good for us and believe it or not, we can also be good for you! We owe you much for all that you have achieved in making our nations the way they are (the good ways, that is!)plus our upbringing and our heritage. Are you are willing to pass the baton of wisdom onto us to fulfil our part in the Church's destiny? Praise God that every local church has it's own flavour, identity, and vision. When each part (member) of any age, young or old, is doing it's work, and as the churches unite to lift God's name in high worship to change the spiritual atmostphere of our cities and nations, setting the stage for mass evangelism then everybody can be energised and find there is something for them to do that is thrilling and exciting! Even just being with Him is exciting! When we come together it can be even more exciting! The best is yet to be!

Kind regards to you all, in Him.

Shona

By Penny Shackleton, my friend and a house group leader at ECF (another site to visit!)

(Ps139:7-10)

"Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to heaven, you are there;
If I make my bed in the depths, you are there...

...If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast."

I believe in a living God who is omni-present and omni-scient. He is everywhere and sees everything. Nothing has happened to me that He has not seen, there is nothing that I have felt that He does not know about. He also knows the future as He is outside of time. He knows the situations I face tomorrow and how I will react to them. He gave His son, Jesus, to die for me and through His blood I have been adopted into His family. Human adoptive parents may find their child does not grow up the way they had planned or hoped for. God knew how I would turn out before He 'took me on' and still decided to go ahead.

"There is nothing I can do to make Him love me more and nothing I can do to make Him love me less" ( Phillip Yancey). His love towards me is constant and unconditional. For me, this means that I can come to Him at all times, with all my feelings, with all my memories and with all my dreams and He will not reject me or turn me away. I am secure in His love which is there, wherever I happen to be, whatever I happen to feel and whatever I happen to be doing.

Do you know this God of love? The way to Him is through Jesus.

_____________

O My God
My soul's companion
My heart's precious friend I turn to You.
I need to close out the noise
To rise above the noise
The noise that interrupts-
The noise that separates-
The noise that isolates.
I need to hear You again.
In the silence of my innermost being,
In the fragments of my yearned-for wholeness,
I hear whispers of Your Presence-
Echoes of the past when You were with me.
When I felt Your nearness
When together we walked
When You held me close, embraced me in Your Love, laughed with me in my joy,
I yearn to hear you again.
In your oneness, I find healing.
In the promise of Your love, I am soothed.
In Your wholeness, I too can become whole again.
Please listen to my call...help me find the words help me find strength within
help me shape my mouth, my voice, my heart
so that I can direct my spirit and find You in prayer
in words only my heart can speak
in songs only my soul can sing

Lifting my eyes and heart to you

Adonai S'fatai Tiftach

Open my lips, precious GOD, so that I can speak to You again.

This lovely poem was given to me by my friend Jack.

________________

"The Hunger and Thirst That Are Blessed", Charles Spurgeon

excerpt from his book, "God Will Bless You"

"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness... for they shall be filled"

(Matthew 5 v 6)

They hunger and they thirst; the two most urgent needs of the body are used to set forth cravings of the soul for righteousness. Hunger and thirst are different, but they are both the language of keen desire. He who has ever felt either of these two knows how sharp are the pangs they bring, and if the two are combined in one craving, they make up a restless, terrible, unconquerable passion. Who will resist a man hungering and thirsting? His whole being fights to satisfy his awful needs. Blessed are they who have a longing for righteousness, which no one word can fully describe and no one craving can set forth. Hunger must be joined with thirst, to set forth the strength and eagerness of the desire for righteousness.

This desire is like hunger and thirst in constancy; not that it is always equally raging, for the hungry man is not always equally in pain, but still, he can never quite forget the gnawing within, the burning at his heart. Blessed is the man who is always desiring righteousness with an insatiable longing that nothing can turn aside. Hunger and thirst are irrepressible. Until you feed a man, his wants will continue to devour him. You may give a hungry man the best music that was ever drawn from strings or breathed from pipes, but his cravings are not soothed; you do but mock him. You may set before him the fairest prospect, but unless in that prospect a loaf of bread and a cup of water stands conspicuous, he has no heart for flood or field, mountain or forest.

They are blessed says Christ, who, with regard to righteousness, are always seeking it and cannot be satisfied until they find it. The desire for righteousness, which a man must have in order to be blessed, is not a faint one, in which he feebly says, "I wish I could be righteous." It is also not a passing outburst of good desires. It is a longing that, like hunger and thirst, abides with a man and masters him. He carries it to his work, carries it to his house, carries it to his bed, carries it wherever he himself goes, for it rules him with its imperative demands. As the horse leech cries, "Give, give" (Prov 30 v 15) so the heart cries after purity, integrity, and holiness when once it has learned to hunger and thirst for righteousness.

Concentrated upon One Object

The man hungers and thirsts for righteousness and nothing else. For the most part, theological works say either this is imputed righteousness or implanted righteousness. No doubt these things are meant, but I do not care to insert an adjective where there is none; the text does not say either "imputed" or "implanted" - why do we need to mend it? It is righteousness that a man pants for - righteousness in all its meanings. First, he feels that he is not right with God, and the discovery causes him great distress. The Spirit of God shows him that he is all wrong with God, for he has broken the law that he ought to have kept, and he has not paid the homage and love that were justly due. The same Spirit makes him long to get right with God, and his conscience being stirred up, he cannot rest until this is done. This, of course, includes the pardon of his offenses, and the giving to him of a righteousness that will make him acceptable to God. He eagerly cries to God for this blessing. One of the bitterest pangs of his soul hunger is the dread that this need can never be met. How can man be just with God? It is the unique glory of the Gospel that it reveals the righteousness of God - the method by which sinners can be put right with God - and this comes with unique sweetness to one who is striving and praying, and hungering and thirsting for righteousness. When he hears of righteousness by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, he leaps at it and lays hold upon it, for it exactly meets his case.

The hunger now takes another form. The pardoned and justified man now desires to be right in his conduct and language and thought; he pines to be righteous in his whole life. He wants to be marked by integrity, kindness, mercifulness, love, and everything else that makes up a right condition of things toward his fellow creatures. He ardently desires to be correct in his feelings and conduct toward God; he craves to know, obey, pray, praise, and love his God. He cannot rest until he stands toward God and man as he ought to stand. His longing is not only to be treated as righteous by God, which comes through the atoning blood and righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ, but that he may be actually righteous before the heart-searching God; And this will not be sufficient for him - not only must his conduct be right, but he pants to be right himself.

He finds within himself ungodly desires, and he wants these to be utterly destroyed. He finds tendencies toward unrighteousness, and although he resists these and overcomes them, the tendencies themselves are abhorrent to him. He finds longings after pleasures that are forbidden, and though he rejects those pleasures with loathing, his trouble is that he should have any inclination toward them. He wants to be so renewed so that sin will have no power over him. He has learned that a lustful look is adultery, that a covetous desire is theft, and that wrongful anger is murder; therefore, he craves not only to be free from the look and the desire and the passion, but even from the tendency in that direction. He longs to have the fountain of his being cleansed. He hungers to "put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness" (Eph 4 v 24). He thirsts to be "renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him" (Col 3 v 10). He cannot be content until he is himself like Jesus, who is the image of the invisible God, the mirror of righteousness and peace.

If Christ said that the hungry and thirsty are blessed, we do not need any further proof. If, looking around the crowd, our Lord passed by those who were self-satisfied; and if His eyes focused on the men who were sighing and crying and hungering and thirsting for righteousness; and if, with a smiling face, He said, "These are the Blessed ones"; then depend upon it, they are indeed so. For, I know that those whom He declares to be blessed must be blessed indeed. I would rather be one whom Christ counted blessed than one who was so esteemed by all the world, for the Lord Jesus knows better than men do.

They Have Been Made To Know Right Values

The man hungering for righteousness ought to consider himself a happy man, because he now knows the right value of things. Before, he set a high value upon worthless pleasure, and he reckoned the dross of the praise of men to be as pure gold. Now, he values righteouness and is not like the child who prizes glass beads more than pearls. He has already obtained some measure of righteouness, for his judgment reckons rightly. He ought to be thankful for being so far enlightened. Once he put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter; darkness for light, and light for darkness; but now the Lord has brought him to know what is good and what it is that the Lord requires of him. In gaining this right judgment, he is a blessed man and is on the way to still greater blessedness.

Once such a man only cared for earthly comforts, now he hungers and thirsts for righteousness. "Give me a bit of meat in the pot," cries the worlding, "and I will leave your precious righteousness to those who want it", but this man prizes the spiritual above the natural. Righteousness is happiness to him. His one cry is, "Give me righteousness." His whole heart is set on it, and this is no common privilege. He who is filled with the desire of what God approves is himself approved. To such a man is given a magnanimity that is of more than royal nature, and for it he should be grateful to God.

They Are Already Worked Upon by the Holy Spirit

Hunger and thirst for righteousness are always the production of the Holy Spirit. It is not natural for man to love the good and the holy. He loves what is wrong and evil; he loves the trespass or the omission; but he does not seek after strict rectitude before God, but when a man is hungry to be true, hungry to be sober, hungry to be pure, hungry to be holy, his hunger is a blessing from Heaven and a promise of the Heaven from which it came.