MY FRIENDS, DO WE HUNGER AND THRIST AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS”

July 7, 2017

MY FRIENDS, DO WE HUNGER AND THRIST AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS”

Two blind men were sitting on the side of the road longing for Christ, the “Lion of the tribe of Judah.” To appear. As Jesus passed, they cried out Lord, Lord, have mercy on us, and at that point the crowd cried out hush! But to no avail. I can only imagine their attitude was, Christ has no time for the blind. But remember my friends; man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” So Christ hears the cry of a longing heart for righteousness and immediately stops, and says, “what do you want Me to do for you?”

Their response was, “Lord, we want our eyes to be opened.” Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes; and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him.” Matt 20:29-34 (NASB) Immediately they were healed. And immediately they followed Christ, because, “blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Matt 5:6 (KJV) And discipleship is a testimony to being filled.

One woman said, “if I may but touch His garment, I shall be [filled, and she was]” Matt 9:21 (KJV) As the deer pants for streams of water, so [our] soul must pant for the righteousness of God.” Ps. 42:1 (NIV) My friends, our relationship and passion for Christ must become real! Our desire to eliminate self and take on the character of Christ who was scourge and beaten by the Roman soldiers as the rabble cried out “crucify Him, crucify Him, His blood be on us and on our children,” must become real.

Let’s look within our heart and ask do we hunger and thirst after righteousness? Christ tells us “whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:14 (KJV) So to thirst after righteousness, “the heart that has once tasted the love of Christ, [and] cries out continually for a deeper draft, and as you impart you will receive in richer and more abundant measure.

Every revelation of God to the soul increases the capacity to know and to love. The continual cry of the heart is, “More of Thee,” and ever the Spirit’s answer is, “Much more.” Romans 5:9,10. For our God delights to do “exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.” Ephesians 3:20. To Jesus, who emptied Himself for the salvation of lost humanity, the Holy Spirit was given without measure.

So it will be given to every follower of Christ when the whole heart is surrendered” [to the righteousness of Christ] (E.G. White, Thoughts From The Mount of Blessing, p 20-21) If we thirst after righteousness the whole heart will surrender to the prompting of Gods Spirit. In addition, our heart must not become unstable and occupied with the things of this world which shifts our focus away from the Bread of Life Jesus Christ.

Remember “Sin will not arise a second time,” therefore if our plans are to be heirs to God’s kingdom, we must be “safe to save” when God says it is finished, Son go get my children. And remember there will be no substitute for the “pure in heart.” So if we are God’s children, it has not yet appeared what we will be. [But what we do] know that when He appears, the [“pure in heart”] will be like Him, because we will see Him as He is.” 1 John 3:2 (NASB)