Friday, January 22, 2016

Seek First


Matthew 6:33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

 Everybody is pursuing something in life. The pursuit of happiness is in the Declaration of Independence as: endowed by our Creator as an inalienable Right, and many are busily engaged in that pursuit to no avail. They do this in the most uncritical fashion, without ever asking if their pursuit is the proper goal they should spend their time, effort  and energy on. So, what do you pursue?  Jesus Christ told us exactly what our lives should be all about. The Christian’s first and foremost concern on earth should be the pursuit of God’s kingdom and His righteousness. I’ve read that to seek God’s kingdom first involves some examining of our first priorities.

Luke 12:34For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.


It is amazing how many people in our society select the goal of making money first as their primary goal in life. Other people adopt pleasure first as their life goal. Others spend their lives making their own kingdom first where they can reign and rule their world. Ultimately, your goal in life is essentially our god. I remember the late Pastor David Rader saying that he could quickly see what a person’s goals and priorities were by simply looking at their debt card statement or checkbook registry. We just watched a great Christian movie the other night titled “Ring the Bell” on the same subject of looking for happiness and fulfillment in the wrong things and the true source of both.  


Jeremiah 45:5Should you then seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them.” 


The Lord Jesus said: “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you.” One devotional asks, what does it mean to seek the kingdom of God? First, Christians are to seek the advancement and extension of Christ’s kingdom, which involves the matter of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with those who do not know the Good news. The Plymouth Pilgrim’s Mayflower Compact states: “In the name of God, Amen. We, whose names are underwritten, having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, to plant the first Colony in the northern Parts of Virginia.” Secondly, it means discipling, teaching and building up people in the faith. Seeking first the kingdom of God should extend until every phase of our lives lies under His dominion in the king’s domain. Then we will be at peace with God and ourselves.

In Christ, Brian

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