"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled."
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied."
"God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied."
I find it interesting that the translators use justice interchangeably with righteousness. Why does that surprise me so much? Because my experiences with the word righteousness growing up in a rules-based church had everything to do with: behaving, standing tall, wearing your "Sunday best". Right was equated with a formula. But Jesus turns this upside down here. He equates right with justice. Desperately seeking the betterment of those around us- yearning to see everyone on the same level ground.
This is what God desires. Don't believe me? Check out Micah 6:8.
He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.
If you say right now...
"I am not satisfied in life...I rarely find any fulfillment in it."
Could it be because you were created to walk in the rhythm of justice...but you have been walking to the beat of selfishness and formulas? And it's just not fulfilling for you?
So how can you uphold justice today? How can you bring someone up to the level ground of justice (not fairness!)- while refraining from elevating someone above the level ground of justice (like we are so prone to do).
Blessed are you when you are so desperate for justice that you even hunger and thirst for it.
This entry was posted
on Thursday, September 17, 2009
at Thursday, September 17, 2009
and is filed under
Book of Matthew
. You can follow any responses to this entry through the
.
