Hunger and thirst after ...

[MoreCoffee]

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. (Matthew 5:6)]

If blessed means happy or something similar then why are so many Christians miserable at the prospect of living a righteous life, as if living in righteousness was just to darned hard to do and will end in failure anyway?

 

[Andrew]

Christians IMO tend to be more happy or peppy to me. The few that are miserable that I know are miserable over health, being obese or something but they keep their spirits up and stay humble. Others I have noticed constantly judge others and appear to be very unhappy people.
Some I have seen in a church with a constant look on their face like "bite me" lol but I don't know if they are really like that because I tend to stay away from that.
I notice as many should that there are some days that are bad and some that are really good, I do take bipolar medication because on bad days I get severe anxiety and don't want to leave the house, the medicine helps me get my feet out the door at least.

 

[MoreCoffee]

Christians IMO tend to be more happy or peppy to me. The few that are miserable that I know are miserable over health, being obese or something but they keep their spirits up and stay humble. Others I have noticed constantly judge others and appear to be very unhappy people.
Some I have seen in a church with a constant look on their face like "bite me" lol but I don't know if they are really like that because I tend to stay away from that.
I notice as many should that there are some days that are bad and some that are really good, I do take bipolar medication because on bad days I get severe anxiety and don't want to leave the house, the medicine helps me get my feet out the door at least.

Do you hunger and thirst after righteousness? I know it is an odd question and nearly every Christian will be tempted to say "yes". It's the "right thing to do" isn't it. But when folk are alone in the dark at night just before sleep they probably sometimes wonder if they really truly believe and really truly hunger and thirst to be like Jesus or if it is just like their comfort and friendships in church and the nice holy ideals in the gospel but aren't too likely to strain themselves to be righteous.

 

[Albion]

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. (Matthew 5:6)]

If blessed means happy or something similar then why are so many Christians miserable at the prospect of living a righteous life, as if living in righteousness was just to darned hard to do and will end in failure anyway?

IMHO, the message there is about people who VALUE righteousness. They are blessed by the Lord. But for anyone to live up to those standards is another matter entirely. And there is no contradiction in that.

 

[Andrew]

Do you hunger and thirst after righteousness? I know it is an odd question and nearly every Christian will be tempted to say "yes". It's the "right thing to do" isn't it. But when folk are alone in the dark at night just before sleep they probably sometimes wonder if they really truly believe and really truly hunger and thirst to be like Jesus or if it is just like their comfort and friendships in church and the nice holy ideals in the gospel but aren't too likely to strain themselves to be righteous.

Regardless of what I think I let the heart do the talking, if I force myself to be a carbon copy of Christ or as close as I can to it -my heart isn't truly there. Grace allows me to learn and experience and to grow in my faith and I do strive to do things better the next time around.

 

[MoreCoffee]

Regardless of what I think I let the heart do the talking, if I force myself to be a carbon copy of Christ or as close as I can to it -my heart isn't truly there. Grace allows me to learn and experience and to grow in my faith and I do strive to do things better the next time around.

Holy scripture warns that following one's heart may not lead to righteousness because "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" Jeremiah 17:9

 

[Andrew]

Holy scripture warns that following one's heart may not lead to righteousness because "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" Jeremiah 17:9

Yes I know that, God also searches the heart

 

[NewCreation435]

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. (Matthew 5:6)]

If blessed means happy or something similar then why are so many Christians miserable at the prospect of living a righteous life, as if living in righteousness was just to darned hard to do and will end in failure anyway?

I think the satisfied part of this passage is not only satisfied with personal righteousness, but also with the righteousness in the world around us. That one day God is going to make the wrong right and establish righteousness and holiness as the norm. Until then we will remain unsatisfied

 

[MoreCoffee]

I think the satisfied part of this passage is not only satisfied with personal righteousness, but also with the righteousness in the world around us. That one day God is going to make the wrong right and establish righteousness and holiness as the norm. Until then we will remain unsatisfied

That's an interesting perspective. I haven't given it enough thought and prayer to have an opinion beyond the very obvious meaning that if you hunger and thirst after righteousness then God will satisfy your hunger and thirst.

 

[Arsenios]

IMHO, the message there is about people who VALUE righteousness. They are blessed by the Lord. But for anyone to live up to those standards is another matter entirely. And there is no contradiction in that.

The Orthodox have been fasting from food and water unto righteousness regularly for 2000 years now...

Self denial is a good thing for a Christian...

Hungry stomachs and parched throats are not to rule us like slaves in fear of death...

Arsenios

 

[Arsenios]

Regardless of what I think I let the heart do the talking, if I force myself to be a carbon copy of Christ or as close as I can to it -my heart isn't truly there. Grace allows me to learn and experience and to grow in my faith and I do strive to do things better the next time around.

What is needed is obedience to and union with our Lord...

And for this one must ask the Lord in denial of self...

Leave off that carbon copy stuff...

Ain't nobody no carbon-copy...

Arsenios

 

[MoreCoffee]

The Orthodox have been fasting from food and water unto righteousness regularly for 2000 years now...

Self denial is a good thing for a Christian...

Hungry stomachs and parched throats are not to rule us like slaves in fear of death...

Arsenios

Fasting may not be what the Lord intended in the beatitude. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they shall be satisfied. (Matthew 5:6). Fating may help to train the soul to hunger after God but it may not, it depends on what is happening in the interior of the heart & mind of the one fasting.