Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness

This article was originally posted by Diego Gomes to his site diegogomes.blog

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

In life, some pains come disguised as blessings. Hunger and thirst are good examples.They are discomforts that point to a vital need: we must be nourished. Pain often serves as a warning that something needs attention—and the same is true for the soul.

There is a spiritual hunger within us—planted by God Himself—that nothing in this world can satisfy: “He has also set eternity in the human heart…” Ecclesiastes 3:11.

This hunger goes far beyond religious desire. It is the silent cry from the deepest part of us—a yearning of the spirit to return to its Source. That’s why Jesus declared that truly blessed are those who feel this appetite: those who hunger for righteousness.

We too easily forget that our inner being also needs nourishment. But not just any kind will do.First and foremost, our spirit hungers for the Word of God: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4.

We also thirst—for the presence of God: “If anyone is thirsty, let them come to Me and drink… and rivers of living water will flow from within them.” John 7:37-39.

In the frantic pace of life, we will only be truly filled when our inner being is nourished by what is eternal. David understood this well, and his prayer still echoes our hunger today:“My soul thirsts for You; my whole being longs for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” Psalm 63:1.

The world tries to feed us with substitutes: success, pleasure, wealth, influence… But none of it satisfies! The apostle Paul warned us about this very thing: many “… worship their stomach as their god and think only about earthly things …” Philippians 3:19.

That’s why Jesus urged us: “Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life.” John 6:27.

This reminds us that there is a kind of nourishment—one rooted in divine righteousness—that truly fills us. In contrast, there is also food that only satisfies temporarily: the cravings of the ego and the unchecked desires of our flesh.

Only the nature of God’s righteousness can satisfy us. Yet in the Kingdom, righteousness is more than moral uprightness. It is a deep, multifaceted reality:

First, righteousness is the very nature of God: “Your righteousness is everlasting.” Psalm 119:142. He is the source and the standard of all justice. He is the foundation and model of everything that is right.

Second, righteousness is the person of Jesus: “Righteousness goes before Him…” Psalm 85:13.Christ is the embodiment of God’s justice. Through His sacrifice on the cross, He made a way for sinners to be reconciled to a holy God.

Finally, righteousness is the new nature of Christ within us: “So that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21.

When we believe in Jesus, we receive His nature. We are transformed into the image of the Righteous One: “Created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:24.

So, righteousness is more than a concept—it’s a Person: Jesus. Through Him, righteousness becomes a transformation of our inner being—a spiritual nourishment that flows from God’s own holy nature, satisfying and changing us from glory to glory.

That’s why hungering for more of God is essential. The more we seek to know Him, the more we are transformed—and the more we are transformed, the more we long for Him:“We all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory.” 2 Corinthians 3:18.

To hunger and thirst for righteousness is to live in a holy cycle: desire, encounter, transformation. Then… more desire. More encounter. More glory.

Have you felt hungry for God—or are you trying to feed on the world’s leftovers?Is your spirit being nourished by His Word, His presence, and His truth? If your answer is “no” or “I’m not sure”—then it’s time to cry out for hunger and thirst!

Today’s Prayer:Lord, increase my hunger for You. Don’t let me be content with the superficial. Give me a thirst for Your righteousness, a hunger for Your presence, an appetite for Your Word. Feed me with what endures and transforms. Satisfy me with Your glory. Amen.