What I Need

Hungry and thirsty. These two words have described me many times over the years. Busyness has crowded out the opportunity to stop and get a bite to eat. It has even distracted me from drinking water to stay well-hydrated. 

Being hungry or thirsty can be downright uncomfortable. But hunger pangs and the need for water help me focus on what my body needs. I eat and drink so my body has the energy to keep going.

What’s more important?

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He invites us to hunger and thirst after something more important than food and drink. Read Jesus’ words

“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”Matthew 5:6

But what is righteousness? It’s a term defined by the Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible as “conformity to a certain set of expectations, which vary from role to role. Fulfillment of the expectations in any relationship, whether with God or other people.” 

Faith makes it possible

Without Christ, it’s impossible for me to live up to such high standards. But our great God has made righteousness possible for everyone who puts his/her faith in the atoning sacrifice of His Son on the cross. 

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Our sin debt is cancelled and in place of it, we get Christ’s righteousness. Now that’s a great exchange. The apostle Paul put it this way:

“…that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness with is of God by faith:”Philippians 4:8b-9

The right pursuit

Hungering and thirsting brings to mind a picture of someone intent on finding food and water. A person with a single focus. He/she will search every cupboard and shelf in the house to find something that will satisfy his/her appetite. 

The same is true with the spiritual hungering and thirsting Christ is talking about in the book of Matthew. It will cause a person to pursue righteousness – the type of righteousness that can only be found in Jesus Christ. Seeking to know Him and emulating the example He lived out here on earth, lead to great satisfaction.

Truly satisfied

When we crave righteousness, the promise follows that we will be blessed and filled. No need to wonder if we’re wasting our time, or whether it will be fulfilling – we have God’s Word that the investment will be well-worth it. 

God’s blessings don’t promise prosperity and ease. But they do allow us to experience joy and peace in spite of life’s circumstances. And the biggest blessing is yet to come – an eternal home with Christ our Savior.

Your turn

What are you craving today? What step will you take today to shift your focus from physical to spiritual things?