Matthew 5:6
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
John 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Devotion
Today we will look at the fourth beatitude. Here we discover that, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.” Here, Jesus is describing the heart of a person who is sold out to God. He uses the words “hunger and thirst” to describe an unquenching desire for the righteousness of God. Of course, the righteousness of God that is being referenced here refers to all the spiritual blessings that come when one is found in right standing with God. Jesus came to reconcile mankind to God. When we put our faith in the person and work of Christ, His righteousness is credited to our account. In the first chapter of the book of Romans, Paul writes, “For in the Gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith…” So, when we trust Christ for our salvation, the righteousness of Christ is imputed to us.
When we are standing in Christ’s righteousness, the Holy Spirit will develop within us a strong desire for the righteousness of God and all that it entails. Through the process of sanctification (spiritual maturity) God will begin to reshape our hearts. Before Christ, our hearts desired the things of this world. After Christ, God begins to change our appetites and desires to align with His will. As we learn how to submit to God and His will, His blessings will become evident.
The promise with this beatitude is that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness “will be filled.” Those who sincerely desire spiritual blessings are blessed in those desires and shall be filled with those blessings. It is a desire of God’s own raising, and He will not forsake the work of His own hands. Our soul is going to hunger and thirst after something. This is part of our spiritual DNA. Blessed are those who fasten upon the right One to meet their deepest desires. It is only God who can fill a soul, whose grace and favor are more than adequate to quench our deepest desires. “He (God) will fill those, who, with a sense of their own emptiness, have recourse to His fulness” (Matthew Henry).
Questions to Ponder:
What are your deepest desires? Do you find yourself gravitating toward the world and all that it has to offer? Are you experiencing the blessings of peace and security that come from knowing that you are in right-standing with God? Have you trusted in the person and work of Christ for your soul’s salvation? Do you have an unquenching desire for God and His Word/Will?
Prayer Points
- Confess times You have hungered and thirst for things of this world. Receive His forgiveness.
- Thank Him for teaching and growing you in Him, His Word, and with other believers.
- Ask Him to give you a “hunger” for Him and Him alone.
Suggested Prayer
Father, Your ways are higher than my ways. God, I want to live with the perspective of eternity. Set my eyes and heart on You. Please give me a holy hunger and as You do, I pray that I will be filled. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.