How to Be Satisfied
By Jessica Van Roekel
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” - Matthew 5:6, ESV
I wandered around my kitchen, poking in this cupboard and that one, searching out the treats I hide here and there. I was so hungry, yet nothing satisfied me. I grazed on candy and cookies. Then I had an apple and some grapes because I felt guilty for eating the junky food. Pretty soon, my stomach felt too full, but I could not seem to satiate my desires. I needed something more but couldn’t figure out what it was. There are times when our hearts act like that too.
We chase after success by gathering a group of people who look up to us and desire our wisdom. Or we are the super parent and volunteer for every school committee, hoping that will fill our desire for being needed. Maybe we shop till we drop a little too often resulting in bulging closets, but an empty heart. Having people come to us for insight, volunteering at our children’s school, or shopping is not the problem. It’s when we pursue these to fill a hole in our hearts that we drift into deep waters, losing our way.
Before Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, he traveled throughout Galilee proclaiming his kingdom and healing all kinds of diseases of body and soul. Great crowds followed him, and his popularity grew. They wanted more of what he could give them: healing. And he gave them an upside-down picture of his kingdom come. His sermon revealed the principles and standards by which God expects followers of Jesus to live by. Maybe we pursue distractions because we forget to cultivate a hunger and thirst for God’s righteousness. God, alone, satisfies.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness is one of the most important verses in the Sermon on the Mount. It’s from this hunger we grow a personal relationship with God. Without it, we chase after temporary satisfactions, struggling to develop the godly character traits Jesus teaches. We can cultivate a thirst for the things of God by studying the lives of Moses, Paul, and others, and praying the Holy Spirit would help us recognize our desire for God. So often we chase after temporary satisfaction because we fail to recognize we’re trying to fill a God-shaped hole in our hearts with other things.
We remember Moses as the deliverer of the Israelites from Egypt’s oppression. Through signs and wonders, he saved his people, but it was through his reliance and dependence on the Lord that this took place. In Exodus 33:12-14, we read about the exchange between Moses and God. Moses asked God to show him his ways so that he may know God.
I will be the first to admit, sometimes I want to show God my ways and expect him to give me his favor and blessing. Moses illustrates the importance of flipping the script. Knowing God and his ways brings his favor and blessing. Moses had a hunger for God and cultivated it by spending time with him, depending on him, and by looking to him for guidance.
The Apostle Paul writes about the righteousness that comes not through following rules, but through faith in Jesus Christ. Paul desired to know and experience companionship with Jesus and compels us to want the same. True knowledge of Christ comes through studying his Word and applying what the Word says to our lives. It’s letting go of slander, gossip, gluttony, and the immorality that stands in our way of knowing him. God calls us to his heart through the Word of God and then empowers us to walk by faith, trusting his guidance and direction for our spiritual growth.
Intersecting Faith and Life:
Hunger and thirst for God’s idea of righteousness are vital to our spiritual growth. Worries of life can interfere with this hunger and we can spend more time trying to prevent the things that cause us to worry. This leads us to second-guess our choices, rely on our understanding, and attempt to control outcomes. When we cultivate a hunger and thirst for God’s presence, his Word, and the companionship and guidance of his Spirit, vibrant faith results in a heart that trusts God no matter what we face. It’s never too late to turn away from the temporary satisfaction of this world and turn back to the Lord. If you find yourself weary of what the world says will satisfy, turn away and fill yourself with God and his Word. In him, you can be satisfied. He is the Light of the World and your hope of glory.
Further Reading:
Matthew 5:2-6
Photo Credit: © Getty Images/Lucid Surf
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