“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Matthew 5:6
When Adam sinned in the garden of Eden he brought condemnation on the entire world, and because of that each of us is born with a sinful nature. We have no righteousness of our own, only the righteousness of Jesus Christ can satisfy our souls. In this verse in Matthew, Jesus is telling His disciples and all who are listening to Him, that if they will seek after Him, their souls will be satisfied.
Often in the scriptures, being thirsty and drinking are used as pictures of man’s hunger and thirst for God. In Psalm 42:1-2, the psalmist found himself in a place where he felt separated from God, and desperate for something to satisfy his thirsty soul. He likened it to a deer, pursued by his enemy, searching for water to satisfy his thirst. Without water to revive him, he would be overtaken by the enemy.
Isaiah prophesied to the nation of Israel: “For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:” Isaiah 44:3
When Jesus was talking to the woman at the well in Samaria, he asked her for water from the well by which He sat. When she questioned Him, he answered with these words: “Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But 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.” John 4:13-14.
Without the water of life that Jesus provides, we would not be able to withstand the onslaught of our enemy. As we seek after the Lord and His righteousness, that water provides health and healing for our souls. Taking time every day to read His Word, and talk to Him in prayer, gives us the needed strength to face whatever life brings us.
John 6:51 “I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
John 7:37-38 “In the last day, that wonderful day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”
Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for your promise that if we will hunger and thirst after you, we will be satisfied, and blessed. We need you every day and thank you that you hear our cry and satisfy every need.
Devotion by Anne Johnston
2 Comments
Thank you Sister Anne, your post ministered to me in such a beautiful way this morning. I am so thirsty/hungry for more of Jesus and His righteousness. I fall so flat without Him. The Lord mightily bless you. I appreciate all you do for the Kingdom of God. 🤗
Thank you so much, Patty. I am glad that this was an inspiration to you. My desire is that my writing be a blessing and bring honour and glory to the Lord. God bless you and meet your every need.