September 10 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Matthew 5:1–10

Devotional

Scripture speaks of those who hunger and thirst after the righteousness of God. They long to stand before God, to be acceptable in His sight, and to be justified. But they cannot give themselves this righteousness; therefore they are miserable. They hunger and thirst for the righteousness of Christ to be applied to their heart and life.

These people call themselves miserable, but Christ says that they are blessed. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness. In the light of the Holy Spirit these people have learned to see their vital need in life. The Lord does not draw His people to Himself to let them starve or perish for want of drink. They are not exposed to their wretchedness in order to lead them to despair. They are made miserable in order to be comforted.

And in their need they will be satisfied. They will eat and drink from the table of the Lord. The Master is there and He calls them. He Himself has greatly desired to eat this Passover with them. There He grants Himself as food and drink for the soul. Just as food and drink are dissolved to be able to give nutrition to the body, He allows Himself to be broken to give life to His people.

There is no closer communion than that of food and the body. Food is given for the well-being of the body. That is exactly how He who called Himself the Bread of Life is. He came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many (Matt. 20:28). He was bruised because of their iniquities. And when they eat and drink Him spiritually, they are humbled with Him into His death, because they see that they are the cause of His suffering and death. But they will also be exalted with Him because He arose with the blood of reconciliation.

Those who hunger and thirst are blessed. They are very blessed; they receive everlasting salvation. At the table of the Lord He waits for them in order to give Himself to them. He desires to celebrate His holy Supper with them. “I will sup with him, and he with me” (Rev. 3:20).

 

From The Everlasting Word by Frans Bakker, compiled and translated by Gerald R. Procee. Reformation Heritage Books and Free Reformed Publications, 2007. Used by permission. For further information, click here.