Seek First The Kingdom of God no. 41

“You have heard that our fathers were told, ‘Love your neighbor — and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! Then you will become children of your Father in heaven. For he makes his sun shine on good and bad people alike, and he sends rain to the righteous and the unrighteous alike. What reward do you get if you love only those who love you? Why, even tax-collectors do that! And if you are friendly only to your friends, are you doing anything out of the ordinary? Even the Goyim do that! Therefore, be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect” (Mattityahu (Mat) 5:43-48). Do you have someone that bothers you? I think we all do have that one person that knows how to push our buttons. That one person that despite all our best intentions chooses to be our enemy. Maybe we have done things in our past to deserve that sort of response. Maybe we have done nothing to them at all and that is just the life they choose. Regardless, one of the things I take from my life in the past is that we control only our own actions. And that is both liberating and frustrating.

Freedom is liberating in that we are truly able to make our own decisions. And making decisions is a cornerstone of walking as a Christian. Every day I choose to pray or not to pray. I choose to read and study or not. I choose to exercise or not. I choose to eat healthy or not. I choose to live in love or not. I choose to live in peace or not. And no matter what the world may throw my way. No matter what obstacles, situations, or dilemmas come into my path, I have a God that has already won those battles. I just need to claim His victory. Too often folks want to walk around and blame everything on everything else BUT their choices. BUT God shows us there is a way to take ownership and to walk in obedience. And that all involves making a choice. Just like God chose to suffer the pains of this world through His Son, I get to choose to walk in His path or not.

Freedom is frustrating in that I have to live around enslaved folks. It is frustrating to point out shackles and stumbling blocks that I have found along the way to others and just watch them accept them. It is frustrating to see folks fall into traps and pits and snares and then lament that it was God’s fault. God is trying to help us. BUT we have to let Him. He points out a very specific way through Jesus in His Sermon on the Mount. I only need to follow. And that can be so frustrating. To see folks stumble over His clear and simple way is frustrating.

Freedom is liberating and frustrating, however, freedom is also the only way to understanding and right relationship with God. As Johnrelates in his Gospel, “Yeshua answered them, ‘Yes, indeed! I tell you that everyone who practices sin is a slave of sin. Now a slave does not remain with a family forever, but a son does remain with it forever. So if the Son frees you, you will really be free'”(Yochanan (Jhn) 8:34-36)! Let’s live a life free in the Lord and the indwelling of His Spirit today. Let’s be free to choose His Way, His Kingdom, and His Grace

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