Do You Thirst for Righteousness?

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

Today’s big question: do you thirst for righteousness?

Let’s review the first three beatitudes. When people see their sinfulness in the light of the glory of God, they recognize their poverty of spirit. This leads to mourning over sin and denial of self. In Christ, we are forgiven and receive an eternal glorified inheritance. All of this is due to the wonderful work of God in our lives. How can we not have a thirst for God?

As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? (Psalm 42:1–3)

The psalmist and Jesus spoke of a similar concept—those who desire the living God will have their thirst for righteousness quenched.

When we seek God’s righteousness, we will be blessed in unimaginable ways. Once again, this is the opposite of the worldly message that tells us it is right and good to seek our own blessedness (or happiness). But Jesus taught that denying self and thirsting for righteousness will bring great and everlasting joy.

So how is your thirst for God? Do you pant like a deer for the water or are you so distracted by finding your happiness in this world that your thirst for God is severely restricted? The truth that Jesus gave in this beatitude is eternally satisfying. The things in this world will never satisfy. You will always want more fame, power, riches, food, and fun. In Christ we have an unceasing and fully satisfying joy.

You may desire to drink from the well of this world, but one day it is going to dry up completely. The spring of eternal joy in Jesus will never cease. If we thirst for Him, we will be filled.

Today’s big idea: thirst for God alone.

What to pray: ask Christ to take away your thirst for this world so that you may long only for Him and never thirst again.