Day 18 — Blessed Are Those Who Hunger and Thirst

Main verse

“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”
— Matthew 5:6 (KJV)

Meditation

Jesus calls blessed those who have not grown accustomed to injustice. They see what is broken in the world and within themselves, and refuse to accept that condition as final.

To hunger and thirst for righteousness is to desire restored relationships, protection for vulnerable people, and truth prevailing over falsehood. It also means allowing God to examine our own hearts. We can denounce the world’s wrongdoing while ignoring what hides within our own attitudes.

This hunger could become overwhelming if it rested entirely on our ability to put everything right. But Jesus attaches a promise to it: those who bear this hunger will be filled. God is not indifferent to tears, abuse, and inequality. His kingdom declares that no injustice will have the last word.

While we await the fulfillment of this promise, our thirst seeks a concrete expression. It may lead us to stand up for someone, acknowledge a prejudice, repair a wrong, or use our influence with integrity.

We cannot transform the whole world by our own efforts alone. But we can refuse to add injustice to injustice. Every faithful act becomes a sign, still incomplete, of the kingdom God is preparing.

Psalm

Psalm 72:1–14 (KJV)

¹ Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king’s son. ² He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment. ³ The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness. ⁴ He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor. ⁵ They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations. ⁶ He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth. ⁷ In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth. ⁸ He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. ⁹ They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust. ¹⁰ The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. ¹¹ Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him. ¹² For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper. ¹³ He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy. ¹⁴ He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight.

Further Bible reading

Isaiah 58:6–12; Matthew 5:1–12

Suggested hymn

The Church Hymnal (1941), no. 346 — “O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee”

View the hymn reference ↗

Prayer

God of justice, keep my heart sensitive to what wounds and disfigures life. Free me from indifference, but also from the pride that sees only other people’s faults. Show me the right action I can take today. May my thirst for Your kingdom become faithfulness in practice. Amen.

A thought to keep

Thirst for righteousness becomes prayer when it begins to transform the way I act.

Personal Notes

What would you like to remember, pray about, or put into practice today?