I am a Jesus pusher!!! “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6). To the degree you have been hungry or thirsty you understand this fourth Beatitude. Most of us have never experienced the state of thirst in the most severe condition. The saliva becomes thick and foul tasting; the tongue clings to the teeth and the roof of the mouth. The face feels full due to the shrinking of the skin. Many begin to hallucinate. Although none of us may have experienced this extreme, have not we all experienced this in the spiritual realm? Do we have a need for Jesus as strong as our need for water?
Jesus expresses this in the fourth Beatitude. After recognizing my complete helplessness and embracing it to the point of “mourning,” I find the nature of God forming the Kingdom of Heaven in me. His nature, as described in “meekness,” comforts and supplies every need, even in the physical realm. It is astounding. You would think this would satisfy the individual and bring him into a state of comfort, relaxation, and arrival. However, it appears hunger and thirst continues with greater intensity. Obviously, in the sequence of the Beatitudes, it is increased by the presence of Jesus. It is not a destructive thirst, but a vital state of the soul keeping me focused on Him. It is the comforting desire a lover has for his beloved. His love creates such a thirst for her that all other women are forgotten. Jesus created this thirst in us by and for His presence. Once experienced, how can we settle for less? I am a Jesus pusher!!!