8月21日

標　　題：饑渴慕義

經　　節：饑渴慕義的人有福了！因為他們必得飽足。（馬太福音五章6節）

饑餓與口渴是身體通知我們已經「空」了的信號。對肉體的饑餓與口渴的自然反應，是尋覓食物和水，來滿足我們的需求。每個基督徒內心都有個渴求，而這個渴求只有神的公義才能填滿。然而，倘若被自我所充滿，我們不可能被公義充滿。在整本聖經中，神強調那些全心追求渴慕祂的人會查找祂（耶利米書廿九：13）。當我們熱切渴望神的公義，我們會為自己的罪悔改，並且神會赦免我們的罪。我們的自私會被聖靈的果子，仁愛、喜樂、和平、忍耐、恩慈、良善、信實、溫柔、節制（加拉太書五：22∼23）所替代。聖靈會使我們像基督。

我們不能小看公義的重要性，也不要以為公義是輕易可以達到。神不會把祂的公義賜給那些對公義無所謂的人。祂把公義賜給那些自知沒有神的公義就活不下去的人。我們個人一定要竭盡全力追求公義，把公義視為作事的最高準則。追求公義意味著我們珍惜神的看法，高過人的意見。

公義不僅僅是不犯罪，它讓神以祂自己的聖潔充滿我們（羅馬書六：11）。追求公義會讓我們愈來愈有基督的形像。耶穌是我們先尋求神公義的榜樣，爾後，天父尊榮祂。我們不只要尋求神的國度，也要追求祂的公義（馬太福音六：33）。如果饑渴慕義，我們會被滿足的！

Hunger and Thirst

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

Hunger and thirst are the body’s way of telling us that we are “empty.” Our natural response to physical hunger and thirst is to seek food and water to satisfy our need. Each Christian has an inner longing that only Christ’s righteousness can satisfy. But we cannot be filled with righteousness if we are filled with self.

Throughout the Scriptures God emphasizes that the one who longs for Him with all his heart will find Him (Jer. 29:13). As we crave righteousness, we will repent of our sin, and God will remove it from us. Our selfishness will be replaced by the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22–23). The Spirit will make us to be like Christ.

Righteousness is not to be taken lightly, nor is it easily attained. Holy God does not give His righteousness to people indiscriminately. He gives it to those who know they cannot live without it. Our desire for personal righteousness must be powerful, all-consuming, dominating everything we do. Pursuing righteousness means that we value the opinion of God far more than we treasure the opinions of people.

Righteousness is not merely an absence of sin. It is allowing God to fill us with His holiness (Rom. 6:11). It is being like Christ. Jesus is our model of One who sought God’s righteousness first, and then the Father glorified Him. We are not only to seek the kingdom of God, but we are also to pursue His righteousness (Matt. 6:33). If we will hunger and thirst for righteousness, we will be satisfied!