When we are wanting to draw closer to God what should be our first priority? Jesus said, “I tell you, do not worry. Don’t worry about your life…don’t worry about your body…Isn’t there more to life than eating? Aren’t there more important things for the body than clothes? “Look at the birds of the air…your Father in heaven feeds them. AREN’T YOU WORTH MUCH MORE THAN THEY ARE? “Can you add even one hour to your life by worrying? Your faith is so small! “So don’t worry. Don’t say, ‘What will we eat?’ Or ‘What will we drink?’ Or ‘What will we wear?’ Your Father, who is in heaven, KNOWS that you need all these things…SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, and all these things SHALL BE ADDED TO YOU.” (Matthew 6:25-33)
WE ARE TOLD TO SEEK THESE THINGS FIRST:
- THE KINGDOM OF GOD: The phrase ‘Kingdom of God’ (also ‘Kingdom of Heaven’ or ‘Kingdom of Light’) appears more than 80 times in the New Testament. Most of these references occur in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. While the exact term is not found in the Old Testament, the existence of God’s Kingdom is expressed in the Old Testament. The Kingdom of God is the realm where GOD REIGNS SUPREME, and JESUS CHRIST IS KING. In His kingdom, GOD’S AUTHORITY IS RECOGNIZED, and HIS WILL IS OBEYED. “Now when Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS WITHIN YOU.“ (Luke 17:20-21) This is where the intimacy comes in, God’s kingdom is WITHIN US, God is very near to us, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the SPIRIT OF ADOPTION by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that WE ARE CHILDREN OF GOD, and if children, then heirs—HEIRS of God and JOINT HEIRS with Christ.” (Romans 8:14-17)
- THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD: “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, BE RECONCILED TO GOD. For He made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin TO BE SIN FOR US, that WE MIGHT BECOME THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:20-21) A righteous person is a moral, upright person who follows or DOES WHAT IS RIGHT (In the eyes of God). In essence, they live the right way. Therefore, the definition of righteousness is the state or condition of being declared UPRIGHT, MORAL, JUST, VIRTUOUS, and GODLY.
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham