In the beatitudes of Matthew 5, Jesus teaches his disciples (v. 6), “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.”

This verse begs the question, “What did Jesus mean when he spoke of hunger and thirst?”

As I peered at this verse in its original Greek language, I learned that this Greek word for “hunger” is the word “peina”.  Peina means to crave and hunger as if you are famished.  In this scripture, the same degree of emphasis can also be applied to thirst.

Have you ever met or seen someone who lived in real hunger?  I’m not talking about someone who missed a meal, but was able to stuff themselves and make up for it at dinner.  I’m talking about someone who is starving all of the time, day after day, week after week, month after month, for as long as you can imagine.  I’m talking about the portions they consume being nil compared to what would fill them.   Some of us may have visited places where people live in real hunger, or seen pictures of people who live in real hunger, but for most of us hunger is a temporary feeling, not a state of life.

As I reflect upon Matthew 5:6, I can’t help but ask, “How can I stay hungry and thirsty for God?”

As I studied this verse, I couldn’t help but note the importance of the word “blessed” being at the beginning of the sentence and being closely placed to “hunger” and “thirst”.  In other words, you are not just blessed after you are filled.  You are blessed when you are hungry and thirsty for righteousness.  In other words,  when you are in a state of hunger and thirst for RIGHTEOUSNESS, you are blessed!  And, not only are you blessed, but you SHALL BE FILLED!

But here’s the challenge.  When most of us are filled, we’re no longer hungry.  I don’t know about you, but when I eat a good 5-course meal and am stuffed, I don’t want or need another bite to eat.  The challenge in the spiritual realm is to stay hungry & thirsty for righteousness.  God wants us to dwell in hunger and thirst for Him.

I want to encourage you to go deeper.  I want to encourage you to hunger and thirst for more of Jesus even when you feel as though you are full. Put away the distractions.  Most of us stop hungering and thirsting when we get full, but the reality is we leak.  The power of the Spirit trickles out.  So, I encourage you – even though you’ve completed your checklist, even though you’ve gone to church on Sunday, even though you’ve read your Bible, and have prayed your prayers – I encourage you to hunger and thirst for righteousness.  I encourage you to go deeper.  Run that extra mile.  Reach that new level.  Be fully yielded to Christ.  God will meet you when you press in and hunger and thirst after Him.

Live the life.