Hungering and Thirsting after Righteousness
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Mt. 5:6
What do you desire? There are so many things out there beckoning the attention of the appetites of our souls. There are so many things out there that promise to satisfy us if we will just give ourselves to them. But there is nothing out there with this kind of promise. It is a Divine promise, and so we know it is true. If you hunger and thirst after righteousness, you will be filled.
And this is not one of those things that fills you at first but then leaves you with heartburn and a stomach ache. This is not like a candy bar that gives you a sort of sugar high and then drops you fast. No: the satisfaction offered here is something that does not leave us wishing for something else or leave us with regret. As our Lord told the woman at the well, "whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life" (Jn. 4:14). And so the satisfaction promised brings us into true blessing.
But there are no shortcuts: the only way to the blessing is through righteousness. So many people seek the blessing directly without seeking righteousness. But there is no blessing apart from righteousness.
What righteousness is this? Well, since Jesus talks about "your righteousness" in verse 20, I believe this is a reference to "the righteousness of the saints" (cf. Rev. 19:8). Of course, such righteousness is impossible apart from the grace of God which is communicated to those to whom the righteousness of Christ is imputed. But the justified are also the sanctified (Rom. 6), and so we can have none of the joys of our religion without holiness (Ps. 97:11).
My friend, beware of the lie that whispers in your ear that holiness will only make you miserable. That is false! The commandments of Christ are not burdensome (1 Jn. 5:3). If you would be truly happy, you must be truly holy. So seek true, real, lasting blessing and satisfaction by seeking the meat and drink of righteousness.