January 12

The Word of God gives us a lot of insight into how He expects us to interact with our spouse, children, friends, strangers. It also lets us know how He expects us to relate to Him. And the basis of any relationship that we have with the Lord begins with hunger. He fully expects that we shall yearn after Him as we ache for food when we are physically hungry.

Isaiah 26:9 says, “My soul yearns for You in the night; my spirit within me seeks You earnestly, for it is only in Your presence that there is any righteousness or justice in the world.” To yearn is to long after. He doesn’t desire that we simply make a place for Him in the busy-ness of our activities occasionally. No, He wants us to be compelled to seek fellowship with Him!

As we are compelled to satisfy physical hunger, He desires that we have no alternative but to satisfy our longing for relationship with Jesus. It is in finding a place of communion with Him, in breaking the bread of life with Him that the Word can become our sustenance, our strength, our full supply. In allowing His presence within ourselves to impact who we are, we thereby effect a transformation within the sphere of our influence.

He intends that each of us who name His name becomes His ambassador who propagates the purposes of His Kingdom and its King, thereby conforming the world to Himself—one soul at a time. When the knowledge of Him has covered the world as the waters cover the seas, then will come to pass His desire that His disciples shall indeed dwell in His true righteousness. It is then that true justice shall emanate from the Holy One who is wholly righteous and just.