Don’t Miss Out—Make The Beatitudes—Your “BE-attitudes!”   PART 5–Righteousness

Thus far, we’ve learned that we will be blessed if our “be-attitudes;” that is, our “attitudes for living” reflect that we: 

1. Are completely dependent upon God; 

2. Have a strong aversion for sin; and 

3. Have submitted our will to God so His strength courses freely through us. 

How are these attitudes sustainable in this world where we are bombarded by influences to act in the exact opposite way? 

Jesus gave us the answer in the next beatitude:

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.”

Matthew 5:6

‭‭This culture constantly pressures us to “hunger and thirst” after everything EXCEPT what’s right by God’s standard! We are pressured to be Mister or Miss Independent and to subjugate ourselves to no one. Indeed, even the “Christian culture” sends all kinds of mixed messages by endorsing behaviors that are clearly contrary to God’s Word. Many Christians don’t look, speak, or act much differently from the culture around them. Charles Spurgeon wrote of the desire of the true Christian for righteousness:

“He hungers and thirsts after righteousness. He does not hunger and thirst that his own political party may get into power, but he does hunger and thirst that righteousness may be done in the land. He does not hunger and thirst that his own opinions may come to the front, and that his own sect or denomination may increase in numbers and influence, but he does desire that righteousness may come to the fore.” 

My friend, Jesus is teaching us that we cannot be blessed by God while we live in opposition to His WORD.

While we don’t like rules—we ALL have them. For example, we all have house rules. I will not look kindly upon you as a guest in my home if you crap all over my furniture. (Sorry, radical example, I know.) I certainly won’t want to bless you. In fact, I’d rather you leave. So, whose rules are we choosing to live by? Are our rules better for us than God’s?

When Christ makes our soul and spirit righteous through the gift of salvation, we are like hungry babies. We naturally hunger and thirst after the righteous ways of Jesus who saved us. But if we are not fed with the Word of God and the presence of Jesus, but rather are continuing to stuff ourselves with the garbage of the world—our born-again spirit and soul does not grow. It withers and we forget who we now belong to! (I’ve been there and often wander back to the garbage pile for dinner!) Our flesh, which is one of our enemies, takes control and just gets stronger. Living after the flesh (described in great detail in Galatians Chapter 5) is a miserable, dangerous and anxiety-ridden way to live! 

Jesus set us free from sin and—we don’t have to live controlled by it!!!

The Bible is clear that after we are born again, we have a choice to live free from the curse of sin:

“[K]nowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been FREED from sin.”

“THEREFORE do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall NOT have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.”

Romans 6:6-7, 12-14

When we are born again and develop the first three be-attitudes Jesus gave us, we WILL “hunger and thirst after” the right ways of God as set forth in His Word. When we discipline ourselves to “live after the Spirit” we are choosing to live in peace, love, joy, wisdom, power, rest, and satisfaction amidst ALL the troubles of this world! (Galatians 5) Then our life becomes an oasis in the great desert of loneliness, pain, trouble, fear, and anxiety. The Bible says:

“The work of righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance FOREVER.”

Isaiah 32:16

“You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” 

Psalms 16:11

Living in God’s righteousness is NOT about denying ourselves pleasure—it’s about discovering our deepest delight and satisfaction in the Creator of pleasure.

One of the proofs that these marvelous be-attitudes are prevalent in our life is that we DESPERATELY “hunger and thirst after righteousness.” And the more we desire righteousness, the more we want it because we understand the exceedingly great value of living in God’s presence. When our be-attitudes reflect that we are “poor in spirit” (completely dependent upon God), we mourn over sin and thus do not live in it, and we are meek by subjugating our will to God’s will, then—we WILL—100%— “hunger and thirst after righteousness!” 

When we know Jesus is our greatest NEED, He becomes our greatest DESIRE. 

This desire for righteousness is not satisfied by one sermon, one devotional, or one supernatural encounter with the Holy Spirit. Just like physical hunger and thirst is ongoing—so, too, is spiritual hunger and thirst. Our need for spiritual nutrition is profound. It is natural for the born-again person as much as it is natural for a newborn baby. It is painful and causes anxiety if the need is not filled. And it is a sign you are spiritually ALIVE. 

Indeed, if you do NOT “hunger and thirst after righteousness,” it may be an indication that your soul and spirit is dead and you have never been born again.

If you are hungering for power, success, money, comfort, happiness, possessions—but not for righteousness—please, please, do a soul search. You were created for so much more than the things you cannot take with you!

Jesus promised to fill us, and completely satisfy us, when we hunger for His righteousness. It is a remarkable and curious filling because it “both satisfies us and keeps us longing for more.” (Guzik)

Wow! So far, I’m being blessed and challenged beyond measure by the be-attitudes of Jesus—aren’t you?