Hunger and Thirst

'Blessed are they that do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled'.

first we are poor in spirit, then we mourn and become meek. Thus we reach a lowly state in which we can learn of the Lord, and learning of Him makes us hungry and thirsty for His righteousness.

Hunger and thirst are a provision of providence. Without them we would not feel need for food; and without food our bodies could not replace the energy they are continually using up.

It is similar on the spiritual plane. To love the Lord with all our heart and our neighbour as ourselves requires spiritual energy; for it is a life filled with useful service and intense happiness and it must have spiritual food. 'O taste and see that the Lord is good', then you will want more of the Lord's love and truth, and these qualities joined together in life's activities are the righteousness resulting.

The more keenly we love rightly and think truly in all our hands find to do, the more keen for spiritual food our appetite becomes. It is this appetite that opens the door for reception and so we are filled. As we receive we are able to give to others love and thought in many kinds of useful service, and the more we give the more we receive. Listen to Jesus: 'Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over' (Luke 6, 38).

How could we be more blessed ? For 'the work of righteousness shall be peace: and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever' (Isaiah 32, 17). Now we can cast our burdens on the Lord and always trust in Him. Our cup runs over, not with any worth of our own, but with the righteousness of the Lord.

PRAYER

'Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the Lord' (Psalm 118, 19).

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