Blessed are...

Hungry for Justice

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”
Matthew 5:6

The fourth Beatitude may remind us of our need, as sinners, of the righteousness of God that secures our salvation. It may also remind us of the moral righteousness that we must seek if we are to live lives that honor and glorify God. However, the primary focus of Jesus’ words concerns neither my salvation nor my pursuit of holiness. This is the point where the emphasis changes. In the first three Beatitudes, Jesus has turned us in upon ourselves in order that we might see ourselves as we really are, and in order that we might return to Him. Now He turns us outward to our responsibilities in the world. Introspection only serves to strengthen us to live out the Gospel among others.

The righteousness, for which we are to hunger and thirst, is social. Since our God is just and true, we are to pursue justice and truth. Since He is loving and merciful, we must exhibit love and mercy. As we follow His lead we participate in the advancement of the gracious Kingdom of God. This is not an optional extra, tacked on to the practice of pure religion; neither is it an alternative to evangelism. The pursuit of justice is central to our faith because God desires to see righteousness established everywhere. It is not possible for us to set a boundary between certain elements of human life and then to name one ‘spiritual’ and another ‘material.’ God lays claim to every part of life; there is nothing that cannot be labeled as His. Every relationship is to be judged by His standards; His values are paramount. In short, if we accept Christ as Savior we must also acknowledge Him as Lord. And this is our Lord’s desire: that we let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream.[1]


Righteous God,
Forgive me, for those times when I have let the wisdom of the world
influence the ways in which I have treated others.
Forgive me, when my values have failed to reflect Yours.
Make me eager and ready at all times to act justly,
and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with You.
In Christ’s name.
Amen.




[1] Amos 5:24