Biblically, This Is The Correct Way To Lust.

Lk 22:15 - And He said to them, "I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer;…  NASB
 
Philippians 1:23 - But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better;…  NASB
 
1 Thes. 2:17 - But we, brethren, having been bereft of you for a short while —  in person, not in spirit —  were all the more eager with great desire to see your face.  NASB 

• The Greek Word For Lust 

Epithumeo (ep-ee-thoo-meh'-o) - to set the heart upon, i.e. long for (rightfully or otherwise).  This is the definition from Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance.
 
We have taken the word "lust" and always connect it to something that is bad, but you can see from the scripture references above that both Jesus and the apostle Paul lusted, but not in an evil way. 

• How Did Jesus Lust? 

Jesus lusted to eat the Passover with His disciples. In other words, He thought about this event way before it ever happened. He knew He was going to die but before He died, He was going to have the Passover meal with His guys.
 
He thought about it and He thought about it "earnestly," the text says.
 
He thought about it, He was going to announce being betrayed by Judas (vs.22), and denied by Peter (vs.34).
 
Wouldn't it be great if we thought earnestly about partaking of the Lord's Supper with our brothers and sisters on the Lord's Day?
 
Have we ever thought about taking the Lord's Supper the week before?
 
At times, I am guilty of not thinking much about it until Sunday. Shame on me! 

• How Did The Apostle Paul Lust? 

According to the two scriptures above, he "lusted" or thought about departing this world to go and be with Jesus Christ. Now there have been times in my life where I have really wanted to leave this world and go be with Jesus. In fact, I could probably say I have been where Paul was when he penned this scripture.
 
I have had strong desires (lusts) to go to Heaven and I have had the same strong desires (lusts) to stay here on earth.
 
The second way he "lusted" was about seeing his Christian brothers and sisters in Thessaloniki.
 
I have experienced this type of great desire (lusts) also. It was when I departed Mbale, Uganda, Africa after teaching God's Word to some of the greatest brothers and sisters in Christ that I have ever met.
 
It was that great desire (lust) that took me back three more times. One of my best friends, Dennis Okoth, lives and works there. What an honor it was for me to serve the Lord with this gracious brother in the Lord.
 
When I lust about Africa, I could say it like the apostle Paul, it is "with great desire to see your face." 

• So, If You Are Going To Lust 

Yes, if you are going to lust, then the best way to do it is like Jesus or the apostle Paul.
 
Don't lust in a bad way. Lust in a good way.
 
Hopefully, you will be lusting about taking the Lord's Supper, going to Heaven to be with Jesus, or going to see some family, friends or brothers and sisters in Christ.
 
Think On This: 
 
Christianity is a way of walking as well as a way of talking.
 
What can't be done by advice can often be done by example.
 
Stay Pumped, 

Gary A. Serago
 
Minister of God's Word

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