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“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” Matthew 5:6

δικαιωσυνη (dikaiosuné, if you want to pronounce it) is the Greek word for righteousness, the state that we are in because of Christ’s sacrifice, and hearing that word was music to my Greek professor’s ears. In our class, in questions of faith and holiness, it was an answer we could give him and trust that it would earn a smile and affirmation. Like “Jesus” in Sunday school, δικαιωσυνη in Greek class was always correct. And life, it turns out, is a lot like my Greek class.

When we find ourselves faced with tough situations, and don’t know how to respond, the answer is δικαιωσυνη.

When you watch TV with your family, and violence or harsh language or bullying shows up, and you are tempted to let it go without addressing it: δικαιωσυνη.

When you’re arguing with your spouse and you’re tempted to fight for the last word, but know you should apologize: δικαιωσυνη.

When your colleagues are mocking an absent coworker and the easy thing would be to join in: δικαιωσυνη.

Do you hunger and thirst for righteousness? As we teach our consciences by reading Scripture and forming good habits, that hunger in our souls will only grow. We won’t be able to sit by the wayside and watch injustice play out – in our hearts or in our relationships. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus promises that in the Kingdom of God our hunger for righteousness will be satisfied. That we who crave justice will be truly happy. And we can start building that kingdom, by the power of the Holy Spirit, right now.

Take Action

Learn what it means to stand up for righteousness in your day-to-day. Take steps to stand up for what is right daily, even if it’s hard at first. If you’re looking to be obedient and carry out God’s will for your life, the answer is easy: δικαιωσυνη



Tags: satisfaction suffering