"Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall exalt you." -James 4:10

Blessed Are Those Who Hunger

“BLESSED are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” (Matthew 5:6)

IF THIS VERSE is to you one of the most blessed statements of the whole of Scripture, you can be quite certain you are a Christian; if it is not, then you had better examine the foundations again. (David Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Studies in the Sermon on the Mount)

IT IS THE DESIRE for God which is the most fundamental appetite of all, and it is an appetite we can never eliminate. We may seek to disown it, but it will not go away. If we deny that it is there, we shall in fact only divert it to some other object or range of objects. And that will mean that we invest some creature or creatures with the full burden of our need for God, a burden which no creature can carry. (Simon Tugwell, The Beatitudes)

THIS BEATITUDE prompts a look at our heart's desire. What hungers and desires operate within us? Which of them commands our utmost loyalty? (John W. Miller, The Christian Way)

IT IS NOT the one who has attained righteousness but the one who hungers for it whom the Beatitudes assert God blesses. (Bonnie B. Thurston, “The Sermon on the Mount, and Christian Living”)

THUS, because it is commonly thought that the rich are made wealthy through their own greed, Jesus says in effect: “No, it is just the opposite. For it is righteousness that produces true wealth. Thus, so long as you act righteously, you do not fear poverty or tremble at hunger. Rather, those who extort are those who lose all, while one who is in love with righteousness possesses all other goods in safety.” (Chrysostom, Homilies on the Gospel of Saint Matthew)

BEING BIBLICAL is more than a private and personal affair; it includes social righteousness as well. . . . Thus Christians are committed to hunger for righteousness in the whole human community as something pleasing to a righteous God. (John R. W. Stott, The Message of the Sermon on the Mount)

THE HUNGER for righteousness is the one appetite that Christ blesses—not to covet possessions or achievement or recognition, but to live, through every action and perception, the kingdom of God. (Jim Forest, The Ladder of the Beatitudes)

ONE MIGHT EAT and eat of the superficial, cotton-candy righteousness vended by the professional religious hucksters and never have his hunger assuaged. Or he might drink and drink of their holy water and never have his thirst quenched. But the kingdom righteousness is meat indeed and drink indeed—rich, nourishing, satisfying. (Clarence Jordan, Sermon on the Mount)

Compiled by Richard A. Kauffman

Plans are being made to take the food an clothing to Atlanta Inner City Ministry during the week following July26. Please bring your items to the building before that time.

The North Cobb church will host its "Second Annual World Missions Weekend" on July 31 and August 1. North Cobb is in Kennesaw; more information is on the bulletin board.

"Dynamic Deacons" Seminar will be at the Peachtree City church on Saturday, July 18. It will be from 9 a.m. until 12 noon.

All kids 5th grade and up are invited to an outing at the home of Kenneth and Susan Fincher on July 18. It will being at 4:00.

Since we have many families traveling in the summer, the children's program during worship will be canceled during July. .

Congratulations to Jim and Hilda Morrow on the celebration of their 55th wedding anniversary on July 9.

Will Adamack, the Hodges' son-in-law, had a fall last weekend and fractured a vertebra in his week. He will have to wear a brace for two to four months.

Continue to remember Susan Carson, J. W. Raines, Paul Smith, Richard Smith, Geneva White, Beth Lalsingh and Bob McDowell.