'More than Anything Else' — Matthew 5:6
[Jesus continued:]
"God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice,
for they will be satisfied."
— Matthew 5:6 NLT
Key Thought
Other translations use the wording, "hunger and thirst for righteousness," where this translation refers to those who "hunger and thirst for justice."* Except for a voluntary fast, most of us who spend our time on the internet don't know what it's like to be really hungry. But nearly all of us, at one time or another, have been very, very thirsty! To hunger and thirst for righteousness and justice is to want what pleases, honors, and reflects God more than anything else. To be righteous becomes our consuming passion. This spiritual commitment takes on a primal drive, much like hunger and thirst drive us physically. Like so many of these beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-11, finding our lives in God, his nature, and his character is our only path to true and lasting fulfillment.
Today's Prayer
Holy and Righteous Father, while I know I can never even approximate the edges of your righteous character, please use the Holy Spirit to make me into the person who reflects your holiness to those around me. Where I am inconsistent, please help me become faithful. Where I am tempestuous and undisciplined, please bless me with self-control. Where I am insensitive and unfeeling, please help me see life from the point of view of others. O Father, I so much want to please and honor you in what I say and do. Thank you for your grace. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Related Scripture Readings
2 Corinthians 5:21
Psalm 42:1
John 4:32-34
[Jesus continued:]
"God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice,
for they will be satisfied."
— Matthew 5:6 NLT
Key Thought
Other translations use the wording, "hunger and thirst for righteousness," where this translation refers to those who "hunger and thirst for justice."* Except for a voluntary fast, most of us who spend our time on the internet don't know what it's like to be really hungry. But nearly all of us, at one time or another, have been very, very thirsty! To hunger and thirst for righteousness and justice is to want what pleases, honors, and reflects God more than anything else. To be righteous becomes our consuming passion. This spiritual commitment takes on a primal drive, much like hunger and thirst drive us physically. Like so many of these beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-11, finding our lives in God, his nature, and his character is our only path to true and lasting fulfillment.
* The same Greek word is sometimes translated "righteousness" and sometimes "justice" in a particular version of the New Testament. For example, Matthew 10:41 has the same basic Greek word as Matthew 5:6.
Today's Prayer
Holy and Righteous Father, while I know I can never even approximate the edges of your righteous character, please use the Holy Spirit to make me into the person who reflects your holiness to those around me. Where I am inconsistent, please help me become faithful. Where I am tempestuous and undisciplined, please bless me with self-control. Where I am insensitive and unfeeling, please help me see life from the point of view of others. O Father, I so much want to please and honor you in what I say and do. Thank you for your grace. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Related Scripture Readings
2 Corinthians 5:21
Psalm 42:1
John 4:32-34
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