Matthew 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
This passage of scripture pronounces a blessing on all those who desire righteousness, and earnestly seek after it. This godly desire is not something that the human agent naturally yearns for, but is rather the result of The Holy Spirit working upon the heart, shewing us our dire need of God's righteousness in contrast with our own sinfulness. The work of The Holy Spirit in this matter is not nearly understood as it ought to be, for many Christians restrict His work to a mere emotional high, driven by feelings, emotions, and speaking in tongues. The common misconceptions of The Spirit's work is what Christ addressed as He outlined what The Comforter does in the hearts of men. Let's read:
John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
The order in which the Holy Spirit's wok is given is very important for us to note, for it begins with the conviction of sin, then of righteousness, and finally of judgment, meaning that the consequences of the choices we make after being convinced of sin, will be meted out to each individual, either eternal life or eternal death. However, if a person desires to be changed after being convinced of their sinfulness, then the promise given in Matthew 5 will be fulfilled as long as the desire is harbored and cultivated.
This is how God has always worked with the human agent, beginning with Adam until the present day, and the reason for this is that it's the only way He can show us our need of a Savior, through whom He can grant us eternal life. When Christ met the woman at the well, He did not spend those precious moments talking about the weather and politics, neither did He seek to grant her peace and assurance without first convincing her of sin, and of the only remedy for her spiritual ailment. And that's why after a brief initial conversation, in which Christ perked her interest in eternal life, Jesus went straight to the point, by opening up her secret closet, in which the history of her life was written. Let's read:
John 4:13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. 15 The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw. 16 Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither. 17 The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband: 18 For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly. 19 The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.
This initial work of Christ for the woman's salvation is often mis-characterized as being condemnatory or judgmental, by those of us who are offended when our need of a Savior is pointed out, on account of our sins. However the Bible teaches us that the work of Christ is not to condemn anyone, but rather to save as many as desire to be saved, and therefore it becomes necessary at the outset of the process, to show us why we need to be saved. Let's read:
John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Not long ago I had to visit the dentist, and the first thing that was done was, a thorough evaluation via extensive photographic examination, in which she showed me my true condition, and then she offered me cleaner and whiter teeth. If I had gotten angry with my dentist for her initial diagnosis, and stormed out of her office with an attitude, most people would correctly conclude that my behavior was not conducive to healthy teeth and gums, and thus the desire she initiated would have been effectively squelched.
Let us then be wise in encouraging the hunger and thirst for righteousness, by humbling ourselves when the Holy Ghost shows us our dire need of cleansing, for in so doing, we will realize the fulfillment of the promise, by being filled. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which exhorts us to facilitate the work of righteousness in our hearts, by allowing Christ to enter in. Let's read:
Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
May our hunger and thirst for righteousness be filled today, for God is faithful, who has promised. "Good night" and God bless!