Healthy Cravings
Jim Lucas   -  

The Big Idea of this study is that when we hunger and thirst for righteousness we cooperate with God’s purposes in the world. He is at work making everything right.

I used to think that living a righteous life was about what I didn’t do. The old saying: “I don’t drink or smoke or chew or hang around with girls who do” was the tongue in cheek slogan of my early years. Now I realize that righteousness is more about what I do and not what I don’t do. It is about cooperating with Jesus in his work in the world.

Jesus’ work in this world is a reclamation project. He wants to make things right or shall we say; righteous.  He wants to help the creation fulfill what it was intended for, to give God glory.  When we hunger and thirst for righteousness we crave this “setting right” of the world, which is currently way out of whack. We want to see justice and peace and equality. We crave His Kingdom come where the lion and the lamb lay down together.  We crave a good and beautiful life for everyone and work toward that end.

When we hunger and thirst for righteousness we are filled with that righteousness. In other words, we are set right. Again as in all the beatitudes we see that character transformation, who we are on the inside, always leads to the best kind of life to live.

Questions for Discussion:

1.  Do you know people who are morally good but no fun to be around? Their moral goodness is not attractive or beautiful. Why is that?

2. Discuss examples in the life of Jesus where he demonstrated both his goodness and his beauty so that not only did he take “the high road,” he attracted others to the high road.

3. I think we need more attractive Christians. What do you think I mean by that?

4. Discuss how the beatitudes describe the character of Jesus. Which of the Gospel stories reveal these “blessed” traits?

5. How might you increase your appetite for righteousness?