Hungering for Righteousness: When Our Actions Align with God’s Heart

In the Beatitudes, Jesus tells us “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” But what does it truly mean to hunger for righteousness? And how can we align our actions with God’s heart?

What Does It Mean to Be Blessed?

When Jesus says “you are blessed,” His words are descriptive, not prescriptive. He’s not giving us a formula to follow to become blessed; He’s describing the state of those who already are blessed. At its core, being blessed means having room in your life for God and being willing to receive what Jesus offers.

Many of us might honestly admit that the room we have for God is minimal. We’ve filled our lives, calendars, and emotional capacity with other things. The invitation to be blessed challenges us to make space for God, even when it means giving up something else.

What Is Righteousness?

Different translations offer various perspectives on this beatitude:

• “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness” (most translations)
• “God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice” (NLT)
• “You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God” (The Message)
• “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for God’s approval” (God’s Word version)

The key definition we should embrace is this: Righteousness is when our actions align with God’s heart.

The Canaanite Woman: A Model of Righteousness

In Matthew 15, we encounter a Canaanite woman who demonstrates what it means to hunger for righteousness. By all societal measures, she was an outsider. Yet she approached Jesus seeking healing for her daughter.

When initially rebuffed, she uttered three powerful words: “Lord, help me.”

Even when Jesus responded that He came for “the lost sheep of Israel” and that “it’s not right to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs,” she persisted. Her humble response—”even the dogs eat scraps that fall from their masters’ tables”—showed her deep faith.

Her actions aligned with God’s heart. She recognized that even a crumb of Jesus’ attention was all she needed. Jesus affirmed her faith, saying, “Woman, you have strong faith. What you wanted will be done for you.”

Biblical Examples of Righteousness

Throughout Scripture, we find people whose actions aligned with God’s heart:

Zacchaeus (Luke 19)

Zacchaeus climbed a tree to see Jesus, putting himself in a position not only to see Jesus but to be seen by Him. When Jesus invited Himself to Zacchaeus’ house, Zacchaeus’ life changed dramatically. He committed to returning what he had taken unjustly and blessing others.

The Woman at the Well (John 4)

This woman, who came to the well at midday to avoid others, encountered Jesus. When offered living water, she said, “Lord, give me this water.” Later, she invited her entire village to meet Jesus, despite her questionable reputation.

Nicodemus (John 3, 7, 19)

Nicodemus first came to Jesus at night, fearing what his fellow Pharisees would think. Later, he defended Jesus before the Sanhedrin and helped prepare Jesus’ body for burial after the crucifixion.

Rahab

When spies came to Jericho, Rahab hid them and helped them escape, aligning her actions with God’s plan for Israel. As a result, she and her family were spared when Jericho fell.

Abram

When Abram and Lot needed to separate due to their growing flocks, Abram humbly allowed Lot to choose which land he wanted first, demonstrating meekness and alignment with God’s heart.

Noah

Despite never having seen rain, Noah built an ark according to God’s specifications, saving his family and the animals from the flood.

Moses

Though initially reluctant, Moses returned to Egypt as God commanded and led the Israelites out of slavery.

The Thief on the Cross (Luke 23)

In his final moments, the thief said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” It’s never too late for our actions to align with God’s heart.

How Do We Know God’s Heart?

The rich young ruler in Matthew, Mark, and Luke asked Jesus how to inherit eternal life. When Jesus told him to sell everything and follow Him, the man walked away sad. There was a limit to how far he would go to align his actions with God’s heart.

So how do we know what God’s heart is? Scripture reveals it to us. When we give up our desires and make room for God, He gives us His heart. As we learned from Abraham’s example: “When I give up my desires, God owes me His heart.”

Life Application

This week, consider where your actions are aligning—or not aligning—with God’s heart. Are there areas where you’ve set limits on how far you’ll go to follow Jesus? Are there places where you need to create more room for God in your life?

Ask yourself:

1. What desires am I holding onto that might be preventing me from fully aligning with God’s heart?
2. Where in my life do I need to simply say, “Lord, help me”?
3. How can I demonstrate righteousness by inviting others to experience Jesus?

Remember, righteousness isn’t about perfection—it’s about alignment. When we hunger and thirst for righteousness, seeking to align our actions with God’s heart, Jesus promises we will be filled. Even when all we can muster is “Lord, help me,” that can be enough to demonstrate faith that pleases God.

Sermon video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUQHU2DCnC0

[Blog post created by Sermon Shots from original sermon content preached by Rev. Kent F. Jackson on July 27, 2025.]