The Hot Seat

Matthew 5:6 - "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled."

We call it The Hot Seat. It's a tradition that long precedes my time at Wooddale Church. Every year, we take a night to honor our graduating seniors. For the past couple of years that event has taken place at The Wilderness Resort in Wisconsin Dells. Each senior takes a turn to sit in a chair, and for about five minutes, those students are honored by their peers.

Last night's Hot Seat event was a beautiful display of love. I enjoyed listening as each one of our seniors were shown love. As the students sat on the seat, I took time to talk about each one of them. When I read today's verse, I was instantly transported back to last night's crowded hotel room. And, I thought about our Class of 2008. So many of the students that I work with fit the description of the people that Jesus is talking about in this verse. They are young men and women who hunger and thirst for righteousness. That is a rare thing in this world. I'm proud of our students, and pray that they will always be marked by a desire to live holy lives.

May you be marked as a person who hungers and thirsts for righteousness. Christ promises us that if we hunger and thirst after such things, we will be filled. Oh, the satisfaction that comes from pursuing the things of God!

Dear God,

We want to be people who hunger and thirst for You. May our lives be marked by our Maker. May we never lose sight of the rewards that come from following you.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.