The ideal congregation hungers and thirsts after righteousness. Jesus said, “Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousness: for they shall be filled” (Mt.5:6). The security of the blessing pronounced resides in the security of Jesus’ promise that each one so hungering and thirsting shall be filled. The providential care of our Lord assists in bringing this promise unto fulfillment. Such is truly a wonderful promise, knowing that if we pursue righteousness as we ought, the Lord has given his word that our spiritual appetite for righteousness will be satisfied.
The righteousness spoken of here involves the divine plan of righteousness that results in a personal verdict of righteousness. This righteousness is nothing less than that which is in accord with the norm and standard of right, the objective revelation of the word of God. To hunger and thirst after righteousness suggests a deep-seated craving which compels one to go to great lengths to fulfill its demands. Invariably, one thus becomes a diligent student of the word (ref. Acts 17:11). May we be emboldened to trust in the Lord’s promise and thus be motivated to hunger and thirst after righteous- ness as we have never done before!
The ideal congregation desires to be all that one can be, individually and congregationally. The apostle Peter exhorted first century Christians to “add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness charity” (2 Pet.1:5-7). When obeyed, this exhortation assists in developing full maturity in both attitude and daily living.
Fulfilled maturity requires one to seek to live up to his potential. The parable of the talents (Mt.25:14-30) illustrates the necessity and the value of so doing while demonstrating the danger of personal failure. The example of the poor widow who gave all her living to the treasury (Mk.12:41-43) deserves our consideration and imitation. She truly fulfilled her individual potential. Additionally, we will not be content with past achievements, either individually or as a congregation, if we hope to reach full maturity. Paul remembered his past while properly relating to his past and the future (Phil.3:13-14). He pressed on! As we seek to be all that we can be, let us do so courageously with unyielding and confident faith, being servants of both God the Father and those about us (Romans 6).
These are just a couple more aspects to consider about the ideal congregation. Next week I’ll pose a couple more for all of us to chew on. May God be with us and bless us all on our Christian journey!
