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Seek First The...

                For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:32-34)

 

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11)

 

Jesus taught a lot about “the kingdom.” The word is used 119 times in the gospels and 155 times in the New Testament, while grace is used four times in the gospels, and 114 times in the New Testament. On the other hand, love is used 75 times in the gospels and 261 times in the New Testament. Of those 261 times, John is responsible for 73.  

 

            The point is not that grace or love are not important in the gospels, or that John over-emphasizes love. The point is that the kingdom is much more important than we tend to think. It’s comfortable to put the emphasis on love, or grace. It’s not as comfortable when we’re talking about someone other than us being in charge. But Jesus didn’t teach us to seek love, and I can’t think of anywhere that we’re taught to actually seek grace. We are to love, and stand in grace, but we’re to seek the kingdom.

            So, what does that mean? There have been times over the past seven years when I’ve prayed, “Not my will, but Thine,” and “I bow the knee.” In the past couple of years, I’ve prayed the “Lord’s prayer” that appears in the same chapter as today’s passage, changing it slightly. Instead of “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” I have prayed “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in my life as it is in heaven.” And I mean those prayers, at least until I either have to do something I don’t want to (like w.a.i.t. – it’s a four-letter word, after all!) or not do something I want to. It’s all easy until I’m home, and it’s too early to plant, or things need to be done that I don’t have the money to do, or when I feel like a failure.

            And this morning as I try to figure out what to write about here, it finally comes to mind that what I should have done was got up and worshipped the King. I could have also gotten up and done some housework, to take the edge off the energy level. Instead, I cast my cares on Him. That wouldn’t have been so bad except it seemed I was determined to play the trick some people play on their pets when they go through the motions of throwing the ball but hiding it. God doesn’t fall for it, but I seem to.” I threw it! Where’d it go? Oh, it’s still in my hand. How did that happen?”

            This morning, I am reminded that this is the beginning. I have been home for less than three weeks. God knows that I have need of at least some of these things. If I will trust Him.

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