Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Matthew 5:6
What is it to hunger and thirst after righteousness to be filled?
The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, by James Strong, LL.D., S.T.D. states that righteousness means justification. Dictionary.com states that justification is “the act of God whereby humankind is made or accounted just, or free from guilt or penalty of sin.”
When we are free in Christ from the guilt of the past or free from the penalty of sin after we receive Jesus into our life, we hunger and thirst after this freedom. We are made right and free to live in the newness of Christ (Romans 12:2). As such, we are blessed (happy) and filled or satisfied (happy) with this freedom to worship God, and with the freedom to love ourselves and especially to love others.
We hunger (crave) and thirst (in need of) for righteousness or justification to be filled (happy) in our free and renewed mindsets. Our new mindsets are planted in “good ground” or in the Word and in the image of Jesus Christ, free from guilt or shame to be prosperous (strong and vigorous) in our newness of life in Christ Jesus and in His teachings.
Such a blessing from God to have such a mindset which is made “transformed by the renewing of your mind” to the “good (strong and vigorous), and acceptable (fully agreeable), and perfect (completeness) will of God.”
God Bless Everyone!
Brenda A. McGee has attended New York Theological Seminary in New York, NY, and Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA as a Master of Divinity student.