“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” Matthew 5:6
This verse beautifully illustrates how Jesus understands our most basic human needs; hunger and thirst. In the same sermon, He also speaks about fasting, a spiritual discipline that teaches us to deny ourselves physically in order to draw closer to Him. Fasting reminds us of how dependent on Him we truly are, as it invites us to rid ourselves of what we think we need, in order to be filled by the only One that can satisfy. Earlier in His ministry, Jesus speaks to the Samaritan woman at the well and tells her, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:13-14). Jesus is the living water. When we hunger and thirst for righteousness, we are ultimately longing for Jesus, longing to live as He lived, to love as He loved. This kind of hunger compels us to live differently, to not just to walk past those in need, but to meet their needs and show them the love of Christ. It means living from the overflow of the goodness of God we’ve received. This is only possible through the presence of the Holy Spirit living within us. So today, ask yourself: How can I pursue more of God’s righteousness? How can I live out more of the fruit of the Spirit in my life? Am I being loving, joyful, patient, and kind to those around me? The more time we spend in God’s Word and in prayer, the more we abide in Him, the more natural it becomes to live in His presence daily. When we intentionally seek the Lord, He becomes so essential to our lives that we can’t imagine a day without hungering and thirsting for more of Him.
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