“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11
It’s the middle of the afternoon, and you’re hungry. Feeling these hunger pangs causes you to think back on your rushed morning.
You hit the snooze button on your alarm and slept in. You left yourself with just enough time to take a quick shower, get your clothes on, and brush your teeth. You didn’t have enough time to eat breakfast, let alone pack your lunch, and by noon, you’re famished.
Every one of us is familiar with hunger pangs, but have you ever thought about how we can also experience a sort of love hunger?
When you believe you’re unloved, you may become so desperate, hungry, and needy for love that you will use people to meet your longing, much as you consume food to satisfy your hunger. If you’re like this, then you may even put up with those who abuse you. You’re constantly in a romantic relationship or have a best friendship to avoid the risk of becoming emotionally undone.
The Bible calls this idolatry. This is turning a good thing into a god thing. Rather than letting Jesus be your all, you become so addicted to relationships that you make an idol out of someone else’s love. The problem with idols is that they always fail us.
But Jesus never fails. He showers us with perfect love, and just being with him brings joy and pleasure.
Read
- What does God make known to us? What do we experience in God’s presence?
- The path God reveals to us leads us to his presence through Christ. In Christ you can seek and experience the fullness of joy and the pleasures spoken of here. Do you seek joy and pleasure in Christ?
- What distracts you from pursuing joy and pleasure in Christ?
Prayer
Thank God for revealing to you his path of life through Christ. Ask for his grace in pursuing him and in experiencing the joy and pleasure that only he can provide.
This devotion is adapted from the Who Do You Think You Are? Study Guides with Daily Devotions resource.
