DAY 86 - IMMEDIATE REASSURANCE
KEATON TUCKER, YA GROUPS TEAM LEAD
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for things to be made right, for you shall be satisfied.” Matthew 5:6
Jesus opens up his public ministry to the world with his most famous teaching that we now call the Sermon on the Mount. In this sermon, he opens up with a list of “blessed” or what we call the beatitudes. In the Beatitudes, Jesus doesn’t give a list of behaviors or conditions that people should fall into or become in order to be blessed. That is not what the beatitudes are.
They are immediate reassurance to the people who sat at his feet for this sermon (Matthew 5:1). Read that again: immediate reassurance to the people directly in front of Him.
Some who sat there were poor in spirit. We wouldn’t call on them to lead a church service, they probably don’t know their bible well, they really aren’t that spiritual. Some who sat there were meek; they never stood up for themselves, they did as they were told. Often they were stepped on.
He also gives reassurance to those who look at the world, see all the injustice, the unfairness, the evil, and in their soul they are so desperate for things to be made right the only thing they could say to describe their condition is “we hunger for things to be made right!”
When you are hungry, nearly starved, you will do anything to satisfy your hunger. Ever been hangry? You know the feeling when you are so hungry your whole mood changes. Ever been so thirsty you get a little anxious and desperate for water?
These are the exact feelings people have when they are hungry and thirsty for things to be made right. They are angry, anxious, and desperate. They might even feel hopeless, like nothing will ever change.
Jesus says to these people “blessed are you, you will be satisfied.” The rightness you seek will happen. God, in His power and Kingdom, will see to it.
Maybe you’re feeling this way. Maybe you are hungry and thirsty for things to be made right. I know I am. I scroll through my twitter feed every evening to get caught up on all that is happening in the world and I have found myself feeling overwhelmed and hopeless, desperate for God to do something.
He will.
Before Jesus takes any action to begin to put the world right, he gives immediate reassurance to those people. And also to you.
You, who just want things to be made right, listen: they will be. You will be satisfied. It’s a promise. You can trust Jesus with this world. Hope is not lost.