June 23 – Matthew 5:6; Romans 9:30-10:4
Blessed are you who hunger and thirst for righteousness.
Long before Jesus’ coming, it was foretold that one would come to satisfy hunger and thirst. And it was foretold that God’s chosen people would try to satisfy that hunger and thirst on their own. Isaiah 8:14, “And he will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.” And that foretelling came to be. The Pharisees tried to create a man-made construct for righteousness, completely not recognizing that Jesus is the way to righteousness. They instead created self-righteousness and were so caught up in it that they completely failed to recognize Jesus for who He is and thus rejected Him. They rejected the very person who could give them exactly what they had been waiting for. They failed to surrender to Him. They failed to surrender to the God who would put an end to our own fruitless and worthless attempts to save ourselves.
When I hunger and thirst for only what I can give, it is not enough. When I seek righteousness that is not of God, I shall remain in want of. Only when I surrender completely to God will I desire his righteousness actually. This blessing is in response to the invitation to Jesus’ way to salvation. For in John 7:37, Jesus says that anyone who comes to Him will receive salvation. Thirst, come, drink, for He only is the living water. Jesus is the water set aside as the sacrifice for adequate crops.
My Verse: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” Matthew 5:6
My Response: My Living Water, you alone can satisfy. You alone are all that I need, and I am in awe!
(Further Reading: Isaiah 8:14; 28:16, John 7:37)
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My verse: Romans 9:31-32a “But the people of Israel, who tried so hard to get right with God by keeping the law, never succeeded. Why not? Because they were trying to get right with God by keeping the law instead of trusting in him …”
My response: Father, it always comes back to Your unfathomable love for us. You don’t want us at a distance, striving to (and failing) obey all the rules. You want us close, like a beloved family member, Walking. With. You. Every. Day. And hearing Your voice and leaning on You for guidance and strength for each task. You want me near. Thank You!