“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled” (Matthew 5:6). These words of Jesus, which are familiar to all of us, resonate deeply in our hearts, and we instinctively say “Amen” when we hear them. But it is all too easy to externalize these words, to place them primarily outside of ourselves. The world out there is filled with unrighteousness; society out there is filled with injustice; there is so much wickedness and depravity out there; and so we long to see God’s righteousness out there.

Certainly, it is commendable to feel this way – in fact, we should feel that way as believers – but our desires must go deeper than this. Do we hunger and thirst for righteousness in our own lives? Do we long for purity in our own hearts and minds? Do we strive for justice and fairness in our personal dealings? Do we pursue holiness in private, where only God can see, as well as in public, where every eye can see?

Robert Murray M’Cheyne, a godly Scottish pastor who lived from 1813-1843, said that “most of God’s people are contented to be saved from the hell that is without. They are not so anxious to be saved from the hell that is within.” How true this is! Yet it is only if we are saved from “the hell that is within” that we can effectively combat “the hell that is without.” And it is the internal battle, the battle for our hearts and minds, where everything must start. Our own lives must be models of righteousness, justice, and purity.

Remember: We cannot give what we do not have, we cannot call people into something we are not experiencing, and we cannot set others free while we ourselves our bound. That is not how God’s kingdom works! Rather, everything in His kingdom reproduces after its own kind: Fruit trees reproduce fruit, dogs reproduce dogs, and people reproduce people. It is the same in the spiritual realm: Coldness reproduces coldness, compromise reproduces compromise, and immorality reproduces immorality. But holiness reproduces holiness, passion reproduces passion, and righteousness reproduces righteousness.

It is sobering to consider that, on one level or another, each of us will reproduce ourselves. What are you and I reproducing? What does our spiritual fruit look like? Do we really want our inward lives reproduced in the outward lives of others?

Yes, it is good and right for us to stand against moral pollution in the society – without a doubt, that is part of our calling – but are we taking a stand against moral pollution in our own souls? Are we hungering and thirsting for righteousness in every area of our lives? To quote M’Cheyne again: “I long for love without any coldness, light without any dimness, and purity without spot or wrinkle.” That should be the longing of each of our hearts: To be like Jesus, our Master and Teacher, in thought, word, and deed, to love what He loves and hate what He hates. As Paul wrote in Romans 12:9, “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” That too is hungering and thirsting for righteousness. It is from that private fountain that our public actions must flow.

The voice of wisdom speaks to us in Proverbs 8:13, “To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.” If we hate evil first in our own lives, we will be better equipped to expose it and confront it in the lives of others. The more brightly God’s light is shining in our own hearts, the more brightly it will shine into the darkness of the world. We are called to be lights!

A number of years ago, after preaching one night in Kuopio, Finland, I spent the early hours of the morning with the Lord. In close communion with Him, I wrote down this simple prayer: “Lord, help me to hate sin in my life as mercilessly as I judge it in the lives of others.” This is easier said than done!

The sin of the world is so ugly: abortion, rape, violence, injustice, greed, drunkenness, immorality, perversion – the list goes on and on. It is so grievous to us, so “in your face,” so offensive. Yet we often tolerate the seeds of these very same sins in our own hearts! This must change if we are to be true followers of Jesus. This must change if we are to be world changers by His grace and power.

May God help us to live out the exhortation of Paul, who urged us to “purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God” (2 Corinthians 7:1). That will be the power of the Coalition of Conscience. That will enable us to confront sin in the society without hypocrisy. That will produce a light that illuminates the darkness. That will bring us in harmony with our Father, and with His backing and empowering, all things are possible!

Let us, then, hunger and thirst for righteousness in private and in public, and as we do, let us remember the Lord’s gracious promise: Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled. Yes, God will satisfy the longing of our souls and answer the of cry our hearts. The Lord will back His Word – and by His grace, we will make a difference. Are you ready?

The Coalition of Conscience is a network of Christian leaders and believers, currently based in the greater Charlotte, North Carolina area, who are working together for moral and cultural change through the gospel.

Dr. Michael L. Brown is the Director of the Coalition and serves as its voice to the local and national community.

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Dr. Michael L. Brown
ICN Ministries
PO Box 1446
Harrisburg, NC 28075
704-782-3760
e-mail: ministry@icnministries.org