Sep 13 2007
going deeper and getting fed
It is a regular refrain in my line of work to hear people talk about a desire to “go deeper” or a desire to “be fed.” Often I am overjoyed to hear this. Because sometimes it reflects a true hunger for God and for God’s word. Sometimes it reflects an eagerness to learn and the live as a follower of Christ.
But sometimes I fear that it is a ruse. Sometimes I fear that instead of going deeper in devotion to God people just want to be charmed with new ideas and profound truths. Sometimes I fear that the desire to “be fed” is an attempt to escape the hard work of following Christ. For when we are honest, we know that much we need to learn can only be learned in the living out and not in the passive waiting to be fed.
In fact some of us are living Christian lives that are overfed because we have not lived out what we have learned. I don’t know many people at Mountain well enough to say this but I will share it generally because I think it is often true.
Many who want to be fed, cannot be. They want to taste the sweet fruit of God’s truth. They want to feel the wine of God’s wisdom poured into their cup. It is the taste they crave. But they are doing nothing with the sustenance God gives to them. They cannot eat because they have done nothing with what they have already eaten. They simply are not yet hungry. If you find yourself feeling unfed, try this: Begin to use vigorously that which you already know. Use the calories that God has already given you. Serve with a wholehearted commitment, pray, risk, dream. Let real hunger grow. Not just a desire to have your taste-buds once again delighted, but a desperate need to be nourished by God because you are living out all that you have been given.
In that moment you are eligible for a promise
Blessed are the hungry for they shall be filled.
on the walk
-Ethan
Ps. This reflection was inspired by a blog post from Steven Furtick. He writes with stern accuracy about this issue. He and I both know that sometimes people are truly hungry and unfed, but often that is not the real issue.
