Printed from: https://www.cmf.org.uk/doctors/devotion/?id=devotion&day=18&month=6
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Matthew 5:6
William Barclay points out that in these quotes Jesus' choice of words is as strong as possible. He didn't say...'those who are not averse to a bit of righteousness'! He meant those who long for it like a famished man lost in the desert longs for food and water. That strong!
In the business and professional world of western medicine, where big money can be gained in the cities, there are those who sneer at the idea of 'righteousness'. They hope for a square business deal for themselves, but they would be embarrassed to be labelled square themselves. Some respect integrity in others, but in practice go for the dishonest option. Jesus says that you and I need to long with all our being for the quality of righteousness.
We confuse righteousness with self-righteousness. The first is a quality of God best seen in the words and acts of Jesus. The other is the quality of the smug prig. Jesus personified total integrity, purity of motive and compassion. (Think of his stories of the good Samaritan or the prodigal son and how he dealt with the adulterous woman, or the dead girl, and with the heart-broken Peter after his betrayal). That is righteousness. Do I long for that in my dealings with my family, patients, staff, colleagues? The corresponding promise is: 'they shall be filled'. So we long for the quality, pray for it, work at it, and the promise will be granted. For more on this point about righteousness as seen by Jesus check out Matthew 6.
Lord, give me a hunger and thirst for righteousness so
that, being, filled, I may be completely yours to do your work.
Further reading: Mt 6.
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