Dear Friends and Family,
A friend gave me this book while in N.Ireland. I haven't been able to put it down. May you be blessed with a little portion of this wonderful writing by Pastor Bill this morning for our devotional time together.
Hunger for God is one of the greatest signs of life a person can have. It reveals an inner awareness of the existence of greater destiny and personal fulfillment. Some people have a theological concept about God's presence being with them, but they are stuck with no true interaction or experience. We must press past intellectual awareness to hunger for heartfelt encounters that change and transform.
The desire itself is testimony that here there is more, and the fact that we possess this desire to seek God should encourage us to pursue these encounters. It is nearly impossible to hunger for something that does not exist. I crave sweets only because sweet things exist. In the same way, my heart cries out for God because I was created to find complete fulfillment in Him alone. And the more I come to know Him, the more I become sure that He will be faithful to satisfy the desire He put in me.
One of Jesus's most important promises was given to His disciples just prior to His death. "He who loves Me I will love him and manifest Myself to him" (John 14:21 NKJV, emphasis added). He promised that they would see Him again. This is clearly not merely a promise that they would see Him in heaven, because that was a given. It was also not a promise for these disciples only, but rather FOR ALL WHO LOVE HIM. (Otherwise we might think that this promise only referred to the appearance Jesus made to His disciples before He ascended.)
My friends, are you truly hungry to be able to receive the promises given to His disciples in the NOW of your life? This is not a theological theme to be "reasoned" with. Many are only "thinking" they have an intimate relation with the Lord. It is your choice. Pastor Bill has made it plain to us. These promises were for every generation of believers. He will make Himself conspicuous to us and we surely will see Him again and again! Great news for you this morning!
In the Love of Jesus,
James Wesley
