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"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst
for righteousness, for they shall be filled."
(Matthew 5:6)
When we turn to the Father and believe in His Son, that Jesus died for our sins, and He arose from the dead, then God works a miracle in our lives. We are clothed with the robe of righteousness, and it is an imputed righteousness, not one that we can create or earn. I love this doctrine of divine imputation, where the Father imputes the righteousness of Christ upon His believing child. Romans 4:23-25 states, "Now it was not written for his [Abraham's] sake alone that it was imputed to him, but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification."
Becoming hungry and thirsty for God and for His righteousness begins with salvation, and staying hungry for God involves sanctification. Sanctification happens when the child of God grows in grace and continues to pursue our Lord and His righteousness. One of the ways this happens is pouring our lives out in service and ministry for others. Jesus said in Matthew 25:37-40: "Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'" The Greek words translated "hungry" and "thirsty" are the same ones in Matthew 5:6: peinao and dipsao.
Jesus' Beatitudes or blessed statements were not spoken to please us or to make us happy. He spoke these words so we could know Him, be holy, live victoriously in this world, and be blessed both now and for eternity.
How hungry and thirsty are you for righteousness, for holiness, for God Himself? Many are still pursuing fleeting pleasures like children do, and they have not yet had their fill of the world. But the day will come when the things of this world will not be able to satisfy your deeper longings, and then you will ask, "Is this all there is?" Surely there must be more to this life than what I am currently experiencing? And when you come to your end, that is where God begins. He waits for you. He does not force His will in your life. He stands and waits till you come broken and hungry for Him. I invite you today to believe in God and trust Jesus Christ to be your Savior and Lord. Come as you are, and He will save you and cleanse you.
Some of you reading today's devotion know the Lord, but you no longer hunger and thirst for God as you once did. Let me encourage you to spend time in His Word and pray each day and to reach out and serve others, especially those less fortunate, the least of these. Then you will find true joy and be filled, completely satisfied.
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