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

Matthew 5:6 CSB

In John Mark Comer’s book, Practicing the Way, he makes the statement that all of us are being formed by something, that can either be the world around us or by Christ. This is not just a profound statement, but one that is vital as people who claim to follow Christ. I’ve found that many times, people listen to an explanation for how to live, rather than seeking the path that Jesus left His disciples. Those disciples being you and me, not just the ones we read about.

When I meet with those who follow Jesus and those who just have questions about following, my biggest encouragement is to read and embrace the lifestyle that Jesus lived, because for all of us, that is the truth we are called to live out. It’s the easy answer, but often the answer that we avoid the most. Why? Why do we know what we should do and yet turn to something easier? We go to church on Sunday but don’t even look at the Scriptures referenced on Monday. We follow a myriad of influencers to give us their view of Scripture, yet don’t validate what they claim for ourselves. We end up misusing Scripture to either make ourselves look better or harm others, something that Jesus fully rejects and stood against.

We are all being formed, make sure you are being formed by the life-giving words of Jesus, our savior.

We’re human, so, easy is a natural place we cling to. It’s easy to let our spiritual formation be done to us, rather than an active choice for ourselves. I remember being in a college class on Greek Mythology, one of those gigantic classes where most people showed up on the first day and then on the exams, because attendance wasn’t taken. What I remember is that many used this as a free hour of their schedule, but when it came time to exams, they did so poorly and so frustrated at the professor. Why? They didn’t show up, they had a syllabus with the general topic, but the true meat of the class wasn’t there. So, when the exam came, there was no foundation.

That is kind of where we are in the American church.

I went to Sunday school and watched Veggie Tales too, but that wouldn’t give me strong spiritual formation. What did, was a family that helped me understand what I was learning and actively lived it out. That foundation allowed me to grow up and take ownership of my own walk, reading and living out Scripture, because it was a way of life not a cultural Sunday faith.

Jesus says that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, that which is approved by God, will be filled.

What you truly focus on and desire will direct the life you live and the life others see in you.

You can’t live a life where you say you love Christ, and then live in a way that shows you hate the beautiful people God has created. You can’t live a life where you say you love Christ, and then gossip and manipulate the people in your life. You can’t live a life where you say you love Christ, but your heart is filled with pride and anger.

When you are hungry and thirsty for the life Jesus lived, your life is marked by your fruit.

Paul says in Galatians 5:22-23, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”

If the people around you, do not see the fruit of Christ in you, it’s time to get to work. Investigate why, investigate the reason that is preventing you from a deeply formed life. One of the things I am most proud of in my life, is how I have been able to enter different spaces and be seen for Christ in me. That’s not me trying to say I do not struggle, but I am blessed that in my life I have been able to have those who have been hurt by those who claim to follow Jesus, come to me and feel safe and loved.

Why would I want tell others I love Jesus and then contradict the way He called me to live?

I am called to hunger and thirst for righteousness, for the example Jesus left of me, the savior of all who told us that we will be known as His followers by our love (John 13:35).

When you are hungry and thirsty, it’s all you can think about. Your stomach grumbles and your mouth is dry, desperate to be satisfied for what your body needs.

This is how Jesus wants us to seek Him, to be desperate for Him, because He is the only thing that truly satisfies our every need.

It’s important to understand what your appetite is for; what are you craving? Are you craving the bite sized Scripture fed to you through someone else’s filter and motive? Or are you craving the rich truth of a loving Christ in Scripture?

I don’t want my life to be seen as contradictory by what I speak and what I do. I want my life to be seen as someone who is trying their best to love like Jesus and be a light to the lives of others.

Jesus came for everyone, every tribe, nation, color, status; simply put, Jesus came to restore the image of Himself inside of everyone.

Be hungry and thirsty for the love of Jesus.

He will satisfy your hunger and thirst so much that it will overflow and cause you to share it with every person around you.

I lament the faith of those who have caused so many to be turned off of Christ because they see a cracked version of Jesus. I lament times in my life where I, too, have been a poor picture of Christ to others.

I pray that the faith of believers not just be something they say from a crowd, but a lifestyle that reflects Jesus’ love to the people around them.

I pray that the believers of Christ would desire to share His love and crave the diversity of God’s children that He so desperately loves and wishes to restore.

I pray that you, who is reading this now, would dive into the words of God and live it out, so that your hunger and thirst can be quenched to overflow.

-Your pastor and friend, Joshua.

---

About the Author: Joshua Thomas is a husband, father, and pastor doing what he can to love others the way Jesus did. You can find him reading a good book, sipping warm tea, taking pictures, or dreaming. He may not have it all figured out, but the journey is the best part. You can find him on the only social media he uses, Bluesky and Instagram