Hunger Will Be Filled

 DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW

HUNGER WILL BE FILLED

Matt 5:6

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

NIV

If there is one thing we are familiar with it is being hungry and thirsty. That is not to say that we ever miss a chance to eat or drink, but that the natural body is sustained by food and drink. Without the food and drink for our body, we would perish. No being is indestructible or unfailing in its nature but God. No being is independent, but him. Just as our body depends on nourishment, health, and strength on the earth, so our soul depends on heaven. Heavenly things cannot support our body, they are not suited to our nature. The same is true of earthy things, they are not suited for our soul, they cannot support our soul. So, if our soul does not get the things of heaven and if it does feed on heavenly things and if it goes hungry and gets nothing to drink then our soul will perish. Jesus is telling us that we must hunger and thirst for the things from heaven, where all righteousness is. We must feed our soul, or we will perish eternally. We can tell when the pains of hunger in our stomach act up, and we immediately try to supply its need. Sometimes, perhaps with good things, and sometimes perhaps with not-so-good things. Good food is good for the body, while other things we can eat may not be so good, in fact could even do some damage to our body. The same is true for our soul. We must be on guard against food for our soul that does not come straight from God. The enemy of our soul may try to offer some tasty half-truths, but if we were to indulge in them, it would be damaging to our soul. Only from the hand of God comes righteousness, and only God can fill that need within our soul for righteousness. The truth is that Jesus is our righteousness, as Paul says in his letter to the Corinthians when he says that Jesus has become for us wisdom from God, that is our righteousness, holiness, and redemption. It would make sense that we should hunger and thirst for Jesus and in doing so we will be filled. We can be sure that if that is the prayer of our soul, God will always fill it.