Matthew 5:2-11 – And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.”
THEME OF THE DAY: TWO SIGNS OF A HEALTHY SPIRITUAL LIFE. The Christian life contains paradoxes. Here are two; the way to be exulted is to be humbled and we discover true life not in living for ourselves, but in dying to ourselves. Many other paradoxes are found. Some are found in today’s scriptures. Jesus says, “Happy are you that are poor, happy are you that mourn, and happy are you that hunger and thirst.” Certainly, the world scratches their confused heads over our Lord’s prescriptions for happiness. But, within these paradoxes is true happiness for the Christian.
As Jesus preaches these paradoxes, one of them may serve as signs to evaluate the health of our spiritual lives. These two things are present in growing Christians. They are also noticeably absent in spiritually sick Christians. We find them in verse six – “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.” This spiritual hunger and thirst is for God’s righteousness found in His Word and His Son. And it is our hunger and thirst for both which identify us as healthy believers. Yes, it is a paradox, but every Christian experiencing this hungering and thirsting for God’s Word and God’s Son also know spiritual satisfaction in both. We are satisfied with God’s Word and Son, yet “dissatisfied” wanting more and more of both. Let’s allow the scripture to affirm these healthy spiritual signs in the hearts of Christians.
First, healthy Christians hunger and thirst after God’s Word. The Psalmist proclaims, “My soul is consumed with longing for your rules at all times” (Psalm 119:20). Friends, would we be able to write those words about ourselves? Are we so in love with God’s Word that it consumes us? Not part of the time, but, as the Psalmist, all the time? We grow by feeding on the Word and that takes uncompromised time in His Word. But we won’t eat unless hunger exists. Where a lack of hunger for physical food is present, a physical illness is coming upon us. The same applies in our spiritual lives. Lack a hunger and thirst for the Word of God, and something is wrong. Spiritual sickness is creeping into our lives. So, if we are hungering and thirsting for the Word, it will show by dedicated time in the Word and such will indicate we are spiritually healthy.
Another sign in healthy Christians is the longing for fellowship with God. There is within the growing believer a hunger and thirst to know Christ, to be close to our Heavenly Father, to experience communion with the triune God. It is an intense desire as we see in the Psalmist that will not be denied, “O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water” (Psalm 63:1). Like we asked with our desire for the Word, do the same here. Could we pray this prayer to the Lord with sincerity of heart? May we right now look to heaven, knowing God knows the truth in our hearts, and plead with confidence, “I want to know You more than anything else in life”? Healthy Christians not only can pray this, but constantly pray this. It is their heart yearning when they come to church, open their Bibles, hit their knees for prayer, and fellowship with other believers. They want God. They want to know Him because to know Him is to love Him and experience His love to them. Such passion is always alive in healthy Christians.
Yes, paradoxes in the Christian life. They exist. Embrace them for they not only are the way to true happiness, but are signs of a healthy spiritual life.
PRAYER: “Father, may Your Spirit create and satisfy a thirst for Your Son deep in my very being”
QUOTE: “One of the healthy paradoxes in the Christian life is having spiritual thirst and spiritual satisfaction”