I’m fortunate to never have truly been in danger of starvation or dying of thirst. I’ve been hungry plenty — very hungry at times in my life — and thirsty, but it’s never been life threatening. Hunger and thirst are unpleasant experiences all humans share and understand which is probably why Jesus used it here. His audience at His Sermon on the Mount definitely would have understood hunger.
But hunger for righteousness?
Jesus could have said, “Blessed are those who seek righteousness…” or “blessed are those who want righteousness really badly.” But he wanted a deeper longing, a desperate need, like hunger. Without food, I will eventually starve to death. Without righteousness I will die as well. Jesus wants His followers to recognize this need, a need just as vital as food and water.
And it’s a need only Jesus can meet. I am utterly incapable of being righteous on my own. An errant thought, and I’ve lost it. A careless word, a lazy gesture, a lack of concern, casually choosing my comfort over someone else’s… These are all things I do every day without much thought, but they all push any chance I have at being righteous farther and farther away.
But righteousness is plentiful at Jesus’s table. He offers it freely if I step up with an appetite, if I tell Him how very hungry and empty I am. I will be filled.
Dear God,
Thank you so much for the rich bounty of your righteousness. I am in desperate need of it. Please forgive me for my failures today. Thank you for pointing them out, but thank you for not leaving me there, starving. I want to be filled with your righteousness.
CamDevo 