Seek First The Kingdom of God no. 5

“In union with the Lord I greatly rejoice that now, after this long time, you have let your concern for me express itself again. Of course, you were concerned for me all along, but you had no opportunity to express it. Not that I am saying this to call attention to any need of mine; since, as far as I am concerned, I have learned to be content regardless of circumstances. I know what it is to be in want, and I know what it is to have more than enough — in everything and in every way I have learned the secret of being full and being hungry, of having abundance and being in need. I can do all things through him who gives me power” (Philippians (Php) 4:10-13). One of several books I am currently reading is The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs. Burroughs outlines this idea of being content with what we have while striving to be better disciples. Contentment really drives home for me the idea of being enslaved to only one master when it is far too easy to have other masters in our lives. As an Ambassador of His Kingdom, I am not only content with what He offers BUT I strive to attain what He offers. Contentment isn’t a stationary position in His Kingdom. Being content is an inner peace about my situation in this temporary condition of life.

Contentment says that regardless of the highs or the lows of the situation I find myself facing, I will trust in Him and His plan. And I find that a lot of the time I didn’t trust Him in the past. I wanted to make things happen. I wanted to make things right. I wanted to be the one enacting the change. BUT contentment is knowing that no matter how imperfectly I operate on His behalf, He is still the one with the plan. He is still enthroned. He is firmly in control of the course of life and this world. He already knows how things are going to end. And so should I.

If I trust Him to have it all figured out, then why don’t I live like He does? Why am I so worried about saying the right things? Did He not promise that He will speak for me? Why am I so worried about sin? Has He not conquered sin and forgiven me already and will forgive whomever asks? Why am I so worried about death? Has He not already conquered death and promises my resurrection for judgment? He calls me to love and not worry. Fear isn’t love of Him. I can’t be afraid of what is going to pass if I trust Him. Because He has it already figured out. I need to deny the sinful nature of my self, take up the burden of following Him, and be obedient and trusting in His love. His Kingdom is about trusting that He is who He says He is. And if I trust in Him, then my life is going to look a whole lot different, my life is going to sound a whole lot different, and my thoughts are going to be a whole lot different. Because when you know you are loved, you act a lot different than when you doubt being loved.

Seek first His Kingdom which rests on the foundation of love.

Grace and Shalom to your home. The Kingdom of God is now!

I love you. I forgive you. Have a blessed and abundant day!

#ThinkBetter #BeBetter #NoKingButChrist #EmbraceTheWithin #SeekFirstTheKingdom #NotMyWayYHWH

Seek First The Kingdom of God no. 4

“This is why we do not lose courage. Though our outer self is heading for decay, our inner self is being renewed daily. For our light and transient troubles are achieving for us an everlasting glory whose weight is beyond description. We concentrate not on what is seen but on what is not seen, since things seen are temporary, but things not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians (2 Co) 4:16-18). Is my inner self being renewed daily? Too often that was not the case. Too often I was looking to lie in my rut and keep in the same routine. I was content to put garbage into my body, do very little, and become a bigger mess. BUT His light manifested within me can shine on my situation and bring glorious eternal riches. I have to choose to focus on the eternal rather than the temporary.

Too often folks are interested primarily in the transitory or temporary. I used to get excited about football season, I used to get excited about an election, I used to get excited about a holiday, and I still get excited about weekends and vacations. BUT all those things are temporary. What I should and do get excited about is spending time with God. I should look forward to prayer and study and fellowship. I should not feel like it’s something I have to do or something I check off my chores list. I should want to spend time learning about the eternal and embracing the eternal. I am only here for a short period of time while I am with Him an immeasurable amount of time.

Remember what Jesus taught about what we treasure and riches, “Do not store up for yourselves wealth here on earth, where moths and rust destroy, and burglars break in and steal. Instead, store up for yourselves wealth in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and burglars do not break in or steal. For where your wealth is, there your heart will be also” (Mattityahu (Mat) 6:19-21). Too often my focus is here on earth, too often my joys are here on earth, when my joy is always Him and what He has done for me and to me. I should love my God and my neighbor. I can only do that by seeking the joy of the eternal, the love of God, here and now and forever.

Seek first His Kingdom which rests on the foundation of love.

Grace and Shalom to your home. The Kingdom of God is now!

I love you. I forgive you. Have a blessed and abundant day!

#ThinkBetter #BeBetter #NoKingButChrist #EmbraceTheWithin #SeekFirstTheKingdom #NotMyWayYHWH