SWORD OF THE SPIRIT                                                                                               1411

 

“Hunger and Thirst”

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. – Matthew 5:6

Olympic runners train and discipline their bodies for years with a singular focus in mind – to win a gold medal.

So, I do not run aimlessly… But I discipline my body and keep it under control… – 1 Corinthians 9:26-27

They keep their eye on the prize every day in preparation for that momentary and temporary event.

But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 3:13-14

They hunger and thirst for the win.

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it; Let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith… – 1 Corinthians 9:24; Hebrews 12:1-2

What are your goals in life?

What are you passionate about?

What is first and foremost in your thoughts and life every day?

Upon reflection, have you come to realize that what you are striving for is temporary at best and meaningless in the grand scheme of eternity?

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. – Matthew 6:33

Hunger and thirst for righteousness – peinaó: To be famished, to crave; dipsaó: To thirst, to desire earnestly. When we seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, the verb zeteo (seek) encompasses every aspect of our being: our mind, heart, and body are fully engaged and committed to finding and obtaining His kingdom and righteousness. It is priority one.

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God; And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’ – 2 Corinthians 5:21; Jeremiah 23:6

To hunger and thirst for righteousness is to hunger and thirst for a close, personal relationship with Jesus.

As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. – Psalm 42:1

O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. – Psalm 63:1

I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. – Psalm 143:6

Blessed: Makarios – a state of deep joy and supreme well-being independent of external circumstances. It is the ‘good life’ as defined by God, not the world view. It is only attainable through a close, personal relationship with Jesus.

The enemy of our soul tempts us with counterfeit ‘blessings’. We are enticed to feed on the junk food and drink of the world which leaves us spiritually malnourished and continually thirsty.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I (Jesus) came that they may have life and have it abundantly. – John 10:10

Reflection:

Where is a righteousness through a personal relationship with Jesus in your list of goals and passions in this life?

Is it even on the list?

How spiritually hungry are you? Are you self-medicating yourself with ‘junk food’ rather than seeking Jesus first?

How spiritually thirsty are you? Are you partaking of the tainted ‘water’ of this world but never satiated – like drinking salt water?

Are you spiritually malnourished?

May you hunger, thirst, and seek first His kingdom and righteousness through a personal relationship and faith in Jesus.

May you be blessed of the Lord with His presence and the abundant life that only He can give you now and for eternity.

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. – John 6:35