A YEARNING FOR GOD

Matthew 5:6

Morning Meditation 11/27/14

"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled."

The word "Blessed" means "Happy." Matthew is telling us the secret of the happy life. It is not the gaining of wealth that brings happiness. It is not gaining social status in this world that brings happiness. It is not things that bring happiness. Happiness is found of those who hunger and thirst after righteousness according to our Lord's teaching.

First of all let's get the definition of the words used here. The word "hunger" means, "to crave ardently, to seek with eager desire." It is a present tense verb which means to continually crave, to continually seek with eager desire God's righteousness. The word "thirst" means, figuratively, those who are said to thirst, who painfully feel their want of, and eagerly long for God's righteousness. This is also a present tense verb which refers to continuous action.

The definition of these words helps us to understand that Jesus is not talking about one who is casual about his hunger and thirst for righteousness. He is speaking of one who is continually hungry and thirsty for righteousness. It is referring to a person that just can't get enough.

It is safe to say that this verse is speaking of a deeper walk with God than the average. There is a continual yearning to know the Lord in a more intimate way. Just a casual reading of the Word of God is not enough. Attending church three times a week is not enough.

When you run into a person like this, it is easy to become uneasy in his presence. It is easy to dub him as neurotic, psychotic, or an intemperate fanatic.

To me the deeper Christian life is a life committed to the preaching of Christ crucified. For me to accept a teaching or even an emphasis, I must be persuaded that it is in full harmony with the Word of God.

To speak of the "deeper life" is not to speak of anything deeper than simple New Testament Christianity. It is to insist that believers explore the depths of the Christian faith for the riches it surely contains but which we are missing. The "deeper life" is deeper only because the average Christian life is tragically shallow.

There are some things that must line up for us to experience the blessing and the overflow that the early Christians experienced. First we must be surrendered completely to divine revelation. We must prepare ourselves in advance, to submit to what God reveals to us.. We must commit ourselves to submit to it, and practice it, no matter whether man approves or not. Second, we must seek the face of God in prayer. Prayer for the early church was as much a part of their lives as preaching. The modern Christian believes in talking about prayer but spends little time praying. Acts 13:1-2 says, "Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them." Did you know that prayer ministers to the Lord? This was an insight for me. I hope it challenges you.

Then we must quit anything that ruins our appetite for righteousness. When we fill our lives with junk food, we cease to desire healthy food. If we are to hunger and thirst after righteousness, we must guard that hunger and thirst. If we do, Jesus says, "for they shall be filled." That is a definite promise. When we lose our appetite for righteousness, it is time to take immediate action to correct our course.

May the Lord bless these words to our hearts.

In Christ

Bro. White