Scripture

Matthew 5:6 ESV

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”

Consider

In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells his disciples that God blesses those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. Such yearning for right living motivates the believer not only to love and serve God but also to love and serve other people and to promote peace and well-being in the human community, whether local, national, or global.

Loving and believing in Christ gives us a mind like his, so we can appreciate the sorrow God’s Spirit feels at the fallen and broken state of our relationships and social systems. Although we are blessed by this gift of divine viewpoint, at the same time we feel a heavier burden of sorrow and a heightened need for personal integrity in our relationships and social justice in our communities. The longer we walk with Jesus, the more desperately we long for righteousness to triumph, to see evil defeated by love and every knee bowing before the good and worthy Name of our Savior.

Jesus promises that we who long for righteousness will be satisfied. Although we are blessed to know the mind and heart of God and to share in his sorrow, we are not promised satisfaction in this present life. We will continue to struggle with relationships that do not honor righteous agreements. Corruption and oppression will continue to perpetuate misery and hostility in the world around us. Yet God has given us the promise of a new heaven and a new earth “where righteousness is at home” (2 Peter 3:13 NRSV) and our deep longings will at last be satisfied:

“Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes” (Revelation 7:16-17 NIV).

Pray

Heavenly Father, I cannot fathom the depth of your sorrow over the unrighteousness that blights your beautiful Creation. Forgive me for my selfish acts that have contributed to the hurt and misery of the people around me. Help me to act with integrity and forthright goodness that honors your Name. Thank you for your promise of a better time, a new heaven and new earth, where righteousness is the rule and where love reigns in every relationship.

Reflect

Amos 5:24; Revelation 22:1-5

Ponder

What injustice grieves me the most, whether in a relationship or in the world around me? How might this sorrow motivate me toward doing something good?