Friday Thoughts

Thoughts on Matthew 5:6 . . .

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

Jesus tells us that of we want to find true happiness, if we really want to be satisfied, we must hunger and thirst for righteousness. Cravings for food, pleasure, power, and things are never really satisfied. They always leave us wanting more. Think about how difficult it is to eat just one potato chip!

To hunger and thirst is to be in desperate need. We must realize our deep and urgent need for the righteousness of God.

This desire for righteousness is only found in a person who has been born again by the Spirit of God. God places within that person a new heart and an appetite for righteousness (John MacArthur).

A desire for righteousness is a desire to be right with God. It is a longing to be holy.
In longing for holiness, we must put aside everything that hinders us from seeking the Lord.

Jesus promises that if we seek righteousness, we will be filled. We will be given what we desire. We will be satisfied. In Christ, we have everything we need. He is our all in all (Colossians 3:11).

Thoughts about routine days and unexpected events . . .

Many days are filled with routine. Our faithfulness and persistence in the routine mark our character. When one is faithful day in and day out, we know that person as one who is dependable. That is a person that can be counted on to get things done.

And each day there are unexpected events. Things that interrupt the daily routine. Things that reveal and test and, ultimately, strengthen our character. These are things that we cannot anticipate, but we can prepare for – by being faithful and persistent in the routine times.

Team sports provide us with good examples. Players spend hours and hours at practice working on the basic skills – dribbling, passing, shooting. Hour after hour, as they persist, the players improve their abilities in all these areas. In a game situation, a well-practiced team will make good passes, avoid double dribbling, and sink foul shots. Evidence of practice. If they had not practiced, they would not be prepared for the game. But where the hard work really shows is in the unexpected events of the game. The fast break. The steal. The last-second shot. The overtime. Players that have been faithful to practice often shine during these unexpected moments, because they are prepared for the unexpected.

In our walk with Christ, spiritual growth happens as the result of consistent, daily discipline: praying, reading the Bible, serving others, fellowshipping with other Christians, etc. The faithfulness in the daily routine builds our character, and forms us into the image of our Savior. And it prepares us for the unexpected events.