What do you think of when you hear the word "crave"? I don't know about you, but I think most people think of foods. I personally think of "CHOCOLATE", and if you are a woman, you can probably identify. (And some men might too. Don't want to leave you out if you do.)
Well, this "random thought" just popped into my head yesterday. Sometimes when I pray, I ask God to help me "crave" His Word and His Ways. For some reason, this word "crave" just stuck in my head, and I started wondering why I use that word. I find it interesting that there are food terms that are used to refer to the Bible and Jesus, such as "bread" and "water". These things are necessary for us to live, and as a Christian, God's Word and Jesus in our lives are just as necessary, if not more. Immediately, I started getting thoughts about what people crave in their lives.
This acronym came to my mind about the things that people crave.
C-Compassion (Bet you thought I was going to put "Chocolate" here.)
R-Relationships
A-Attention
V-Values
E-Encouragement
We all crave compassion, don't we? When we are suffering in some way, whether it be physical, mental, or spiritual, we like to have someone around who cares. I think the greatest example of compassion can be found in John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth, should not perish, but have everlasting life.
We all crave relationships. No one likes to be alone. We all crave interaction with others, and we crave to have people in our lives that we are close enough to to share the good and bad times with. In the first few chapter of the Bible, God made Eve for Adam. It says that he made her as a companion for him because "it was not good for him to be alone." Also, the best and most fulfilling relationship we can have is with Jesus.
In some ways, we all crave attention. This can be good or bad, depending on what you are calling attention to. The way we live our lives calls attention to what is important to us. I want to live my life in order to "call attention" to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The Bible says in John 3:30 - He must increase, but I must decrease. This is saying that we do not live for our own purposes, but for His. I challenge you to take a look at your life. What do others see you showing as most important in your life?
I believe also that we all crave things to value, or at least we should. We need to have something to believe in. If we didn't, this world would be impossible to live in. The Bible speaks of many values; too many to actually go into, but having values gives us hope. If we do not have hope, we do not have anything. What is your hope in? To quote a popular hymn, "My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness."
And lastly, I believe we all crave encouragement in our lives. We all have things we love to do. God has given us talents, gifts and abilities, and we should use those things to the best of our ability. Sometimes though, we might be afraid. We might be afraid we will fail, or be afraid of what others may say about us. But I just want to encourage you now. You are special, especially to the One who created you. He made you for a specific purpose. He gave you specific talents, gifts and abilities, and if you use those things to honor and glorify Him, you will never fail; at least in His eyes, and that's all that really counts.
(If you have any questions about anything I said above, please feel free to contact me with those questions. I would be happy to answer them for you.)
Till next time, Jackie
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