April 8

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” —MATTHEW 5:6

Never has there been so much confusion about what is right or wrong than there is in our world today. The problem we face is not so much one of immorality as it is amorality. Morality is a recognized code of behaviour. Immorality is a violation of that code – amorality is an absence of that code of behaviour.

Generally speaking, behaviour is not determined by any objective standard of right and wrong, but by what seems to most suit our own needs and interests. There are about as many subjective truths in the world today as there are people. What is true for one person may not be true for another. We make “poor choices”, but rarely see that something is “wrong”. We don’t know the measurement of goodness to recognize that.

Jesus said to the rich young ruler, “No one is good — except God alone” (Mark 10:18). That which is good is that which is consistent with the moral character of God, and that which is bad is in contradiction of His character. That is why righteousness is not a question of only outward behaviour, but an inner revolution by the life of the Lord Jesus Christ coming to live within us, and changing us from within. He is our measure of goodness.

When we allow Christ into our hearts, He begins to change who we are and we start to hunger and thirst for righteousness. Hunger and thirst are fundamental instincts in life and evidence of spiritual life is spiritual appetite. We have an appetite we never had before. We hunger to know more of God, more of His righteousness, more of His purpose, and to be involved in His work in this world. We hunger for what is right and good.

Jesus does not mean to satisfy one particular area of life for awhile, and at another time, satisfy another area. He means to satisfy us fundamentally at the source point of everything else, but there has to be an inner transformation before there can be an outer change in behaviour. Jesus goes right to the heart from where all sin derives. He works in us first, implanting His desires in our hearts, and restoring us to our created purpose, which is to be a visible and physical expression of His moral character. Hence, our appetite for righteousness, which will then be expressed outwardly in our relationships with others.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, I am overwhelming grateful for the hunger and thirst for righteousness You have created in me. I am so enriched by your working in my life. Thank You, Lord.

TO REFLECT UPON: How has a hunger and thirst for righteousness deepened my relationship with Jesus?