“Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are blessed, for they will be filled” (Matt. 5:6).

Consider yourself supremely fortunate if you crave righteousness—if you hunger for God’s approval—because you will be satisfied. This is a lofty promise that came from the mouth of Jesus Himself. If you want to be righteous, look to Him and you will be made righteous. If you want to be filled with holiness, look to Him and you will be made holy.

A person who desires righteousness is aware of his need to be made righteous in the same way a hungry child is aware of his need to be fed. To hunger for righteousness is to say, “I need to be given (to be fed, to be imparted) a right standing with God. I cannot feed myself righteousness. I cannot make myself righteous. I need a righteousness outside myself.”

This hunger is in us all, but many of us spend our lives trying to appease it with missions trips and self-help books instead of looking to Jesus for the answer. Don’t waste the rest of your life attempting to satisfy an eternity-sized hunger with lifeless rituals. Run to the cross, where Jesus satisfies the starving soul and offers acceptance, holiness, and righteousness before the Father.

Today, look to Him and be filled. Look to Him and be blessed.