THURSDAY February 13, 2020

Blessed are Those who Hunger and Thirst

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.”
Matthew 5:6

After the first three Beatitudes, disciples of Christ should know what attitudes they should have in their lives. They are to be poor in spirit, mourn over their sin, and have humility––meekness. Then there is a natural process that begins, which is to hunger after God. If people want true satisfaction, they need to search for the truth of God.

People who do not know God will not hunger after God––they cannot. Instead, they indulge in themselves. Even in the Church, this has become a major problem. Christians are too full of self. Many people only think of number one, me myself and I. It is not until people see who they are in the eyes of God––sinners––that they go through spiritual bankruptcy, repentance, and meekness––and to hunger and thirst for righteousness.

As this happens, they will have a true spiritual satisfaction. Christians should never seek in other places for satisfaction, as they can only become complete in Jesus Christ. We are children of the kingdom of God, and we need to be aligned with His perfect will.

Naturally, God’s righteousness is given to us so we can be right with Him. Christians cannot be righteous in themselves. They enjoy fellowship with God because of His righteousness. As Jesus’ disciples, we should do what is right in His eyes. It is important to help other people. If Christians remain greedy and selfish, there will be no satisfaction in anything they do. In fact, they will end up living very lonely lives. Many people who are selfish do not have peace. They continually look for something else to satisfy their lives.

Over the years, I have watched the life of my wife; she is such a giving person. Rather than allotting time on herself, she spends her life doing good and helping others. She is satisfied––fulfilled––and I can see the peace in her life.

O God, I have tasted thy goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more, I am painfully conscious of my need for further grace.
~A.W. Tozer~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!