Seek First the Kingdom of God
Matthew 6:30-34 (NIV) 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Yesterday, we looked at the verses immediately preceding today’s scripture, and today we finish the thought—we are no longer pagans, running here and there after the things we not only need but want. When we seek the kingdom and His righteousness all these things will be given to us. Seek in the Hebrew “daresh” means to search for something diligently. So, if we search diligently after God, He will supply our needs according to His riches in glory. You see, putting things in God’s order makes all the difference.
Consider the story of Solomon, King David’s son. Solomon is a keen example of one who sought God first—not after all other options had run out, but first.
1 Kings 3:7-9 (NIV) 7 “Now, LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. 8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. 10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 11 So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, 12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. 13 Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor —so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings.
“Don’t borrow trouble” supposedly has its roots in Appalachia or deep Southern slang, but as we can see, the true root goes back much farther. In the words of a wise young girl I once pastored, “God has this.”
May we, if we slip into worry or doubt, remember these words, “God has this.”
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Fear Not, Worry Not
Matthew 6:25-30 (NIV) 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?
When was the last time you looked at these verses? It is a natural thing to worry, right? God gave us a brain to use, didn’t He? Yet clearly God does not want us to worry. But even people of faith can sometimes fall prey to worrying, though many times our fears are never realized.
So how do we exchange fear for faith? We begin each day in the Word, drawing sustenance from each promise God has made. We stand firm in the shadow of the cross, which covers not only our sins but our shortcomings. We pray without ceasing, speaking our praises and our concerns to God. And then, we listen to the urgings and the whispers of the Holy Spirit as He guides us and comforts us.
May we be comforted.by the trust we have placed in Jesus, not just for our salvation, but for relief from worrying.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Psalms 61:1-5 Psalm 61
For the director of music. With stringed instruments. Of David.
1 Hear my cry, O God;
listen to my prayer.
2 From the ends of the earth I call to you,
I call as my heart grows faint;
lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
3 For you have been my refuge,
a strong tower against the foe.
4 I long to dwell in your tent forever
and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.
5 For you, God, have heard my vows;
you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.
I often remind myself and others that David was not called the apple of God’s eye because he was perfect, but because he knew where to turn when he sinned. There is a certain peace that accompanies the knowledge of where to find relief, whether it be from battle without or struggle within.
Jesus is the Rock of our salvation and our strength. He lifts us high above the heads of all our enemies. He hides us in His Pavilion, in His secret dwelling place, where we behold the beauty of his face.
May we, today and everyday, turn toward Jesus regardless of our struggles and our fears.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Light of Man
John 1:1-14 The Word Became Flesh
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
How amazing is this scripture? The light shines in the darkness and and the darkness has not overcome it. How could the light of the Holy One ever be extinguished? Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
What would we do without the light? Stumble around in the darkness! Grope around like a blind man? Continue in a life of sin? God forbid!
I think of Jesus who made the world, yet when He came into the world His own did not know Him. I have long wondered how those in His presence could not recognize Him. Could they not sense His holiness? Were they unaware of the hope and promise of salvation?
I suppose the light of the world was like an ember that had not yet been transformed into a roaring fire. But when the fire began to spread nothing cold stop it.
May we be so on fire for Gpd that our light shines like a star in the night!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy.Spirit. Amen.
Extravagant Love
Eph 4:29 Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift.
30 Don’t grieve God. Don’t break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Don’t take such a gift for granted.
31-32 Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson
Ephesians 5
Wake Up from Your Sleep
5 1-2 Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.
It has long bothered me how the everyday behavior of some Christians has morphed into something indistinguishable from the world. “Each word is a gift,” reminds us that we should do nothing to break God’s heart, but instead our words and actions should reflect His great love and mercy.
Paul says to imitate God’s conduct by keeping company with Him. Watch what He does and do the same. Is Paul calling for perfection? Not at all. Instead, Paul is bringing to our attention that when we spend time with God we become transformed by His presence, by His influence, and by His character.
May we today and every day reflect the love, grace and mercy of God in everything we do. Take the name of Jesus with you and share Him with all you meet.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Seeking Holiness 