Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Matthew 5:6 (KJV)
Some see our key verse as a conundrum. Many Christians view their relationship with God as similar to physical hunger and thirst, seeing these as needs that are only temporarily satisfied.
Knowing God more happens when true followers hunger and thirst endlessly for Him.
You see, there is nothing inherently righteous in us. But God living in us makes all the difference.
Hungry & Full
The world’s desire is nothing like that. Those apart from God don’t know what they are missing.
Their desire looks more like insatiable human greed or like overeating for the taste even when full; you should stop, but you don’t, leading to misery instead of satisfaction.
Satisfaction is ever elusive.
If you don’t know God deeply, it’s hard to understand why faithful followers love to read a Book most people consider archaic and irrelevant.
But the desire to lead righteous lives is not puzzling at all. We want to be conformed in the image of Christ, our Savior, more and more.
Following Jesus, the way God intends is all or nothing. Anything less for a Christian is to disdain grace.
We won’t have sinless days in this world, but we should strive to honor God in even the smallest details of our lives—speech, conduct, motives, and more. This will actually simplify our lives
“Be an example to all believers
in what you say, in the way you live,
in your love, your faith, and your purity…”
1 Timothy 4:12 (NLT)
Hungering for righteousness happens when we stay connected in a meaningful relationship with God.
So how do we do that?
First of all, be sure of your faith in God. You absolutely can know for sure. Click this link. 1
Read the short book of 1 John (NLT)2
Then get involved in a vibrant growing church. Read God’s Word every day. Talk to Him. Share the Gospel.
I hope you are hungering deeply for Jesus. There is so much to love in His Word. Step away from the loudness of life and shine!
King James Version (KJV)
- Billygraham.net/peacewithgod ↩︎
- New Living Translation (NLT)Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. ↩︎
Getting the Seed out of the basket and into hungry hearts. Matthew 13 