God Can Speak Here, Too

   I am not trying to project myself too far into the future, but just going through Matthew 5,6 and 7 at a slow, verse by verse, pace and seeing how it all plays out on a day by day basis. I sense that there are many things in here that call me to a new level of following Jesus, even questioning whether I am actually following Him at all. A scary prospect for sure.

   In Matthew 5, moving down to verse 6, as translated in The Message:

“You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat."

   And also in the New King James Version:

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

    For they shall be filled."

   What put me on this whole trail is the rereading of Chasing Francis, a modern day chronicle of a man, disillusioned by "doing church" and wanting more. His pilgrimage into the life and times of St. Francis of Assisi, brings to light a new look at the Sermon on the Mount, and it is that journey that I am trying to understand. 

   In the evangelical protestant world, old saints in the Roman Catholic Church don't generate a lot of respect or publicity, and, if the Peace Prayer had not been attributed to Francis, we may not even know his name.

   But there is much to be admired in the life of this old saint. From the passages quoted in this fictional book, it is said that Francis took the Sermon on the Mount and tried to live it out as it was written, not attempting to put a modern (for him modern was 13th century) spin on the words. He attempted, not to just teach the Sermon, but live it out in front of his world, hence his words:

   "Preach the Gospel always, and if necessary use words"

   Sure St. Francis has some odd ways, like the stories of him preaching to the birds and animals, but maybe they are odd in our 21st century eyes, or maybe they are just stories, but throwing out a whole life seems a great injustice. There is just too much good stuff in his life and writings.

   So I read this fiction book, and I try to see where the author is heading, and I try to square it up with what the Bible says, and I see where God can use it to speak to us moderns.

   What does all of this come in with the study of Matthew 5:6? 

   What I read, what I look at, where I put myself are all ways to feed My appetite for God.

   There are 2,000 years of Christians, their traditions, and their writings. God can use any of these to speak to me His words of Truth.

   Even in a work of pure fiction.