October 1, 2013 FB
“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness” (Matt. 6:33)
These goals are not goals for our desire. Our one great desire is to be for the Lord Himself (Ps. 27:4; 73:25). These are goals for our every day decisions/actions and for our character.
Both of these goals are to be “first” in the life of every believer. This doesn’t mean first in sequence, but first in priority. It means to make these goals the highest/foremost priority. These goals are to be above all other priorities and they are to be the goals of our every day lives.
1. Seek God’s Kingdom
This is to be the goal for our actions. It can be taken in two senses. First, we are to seek the things that are above in heaven. We are to work toward our future eternal life, not our brief existence here in this life. Second, and more importantly, we are to seek to glorify God and His kingdom in our actions here and now in our lives. Everything we do should be aimed toward bringing the Lord glory. We should give Him praise and thanks for everything. We should seek to exalt the Lord and magnify His beauty and His holiness in the eyes of others. Before we decide on any action, no matter how small, we should ask ourselves if it would glorify the Lord.
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matt. 6:19-21).
“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory” (Col. 3:1-4).
"...let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven" (Matt. 5:16).
2. Seek God’s Righteousness
This is to be the goal for our character. The question we believers must ask is, “Are we to seek to obtain God’s righteousness?” The answer is no. If we are believers then we already have His righteousness (Rom. 3:21-22) so there is no need to obtain it. For a believer, to seek God’s righteousness means to live according to His righteousness/holiness. Our lives should be marked by holiness for the purpose of pleasing the Lord. To be holy for the purpose of bringing glory to oneself, whether glory from others or glory in our own eyes (self-righteousness) is sin (Matt. 6:1-5). The purpose for holiness is to please God. Everything we do should be aimed toward bringing the Lord pleasure. This means setting up limits for oneself, cutting off access to sinful habits, making time for the Lord, learning how to apply the Bible to our lives, etc., in order to please the Lord. Before we decide on any action, no matter how small, we should ask ourselves if it is holy and if it would please the Lord.
“…walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth) trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord” (Eph. 5:8-10).
“Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.” (2 Cor. 5:9)
“…live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.” (1 Thess. 4:1).
“…walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Col. 1:10).
Nehemiah Ryan © 2013
1. Seek God’s Kingdom
This is to be the goal for our actions. It can be taken in two senses. First, we are to seek the things that are above in heaven. We are to work toward our future eternal life, not our brief existence here in this life. Second, and more importantly, we are to seek to glorify God and His kingdom in our actions here and now in our lives. Everything we do should be aimed toward bringing the Lord glory. We should give Him praise and thanks for everything. We should seek to exalt the Lord and magnify His beauty and His holiness in the eyes of others. Before we decide on any action, no matter how small, we should ask ourselves if it would glorify the Lord.
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matt. 6:19-21).
“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory” (Col. 3:1-4).
"...let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven" (Matt. 5:16).
2. Seek God’s Righteousness
This is to be the goal for our character. The question we believers must ask is, “Are we to seek to obtain God’s righteousness?” The answer is no. If we are believers then we already have His righteousness (Rom. 3:21-22) so there is no need to obtain it. For a believer, to seek God’s righteousness means to live according to His righteousness/holiness. Our lives should be marked by holiness for the purpose of pleasing the Lord. To be holy for the purpose of bringing glory to oneself, whether glory from others or glory in our own eyes (self-righteousness) is sin (Matt. 6:1-5). The purpose for holiness is to please God. Everything we do should be aimed toward bringing the Lord pleasure. This means setting up limits for oneself, cutting off access to sinful habits, making time for the Lord, learning how to apply the Bible to our lives, etc., in order to please the Lord. Before we decide on any action, no matter how small, we should ask ourselves if it is holy and if it would please the Lord.
“…walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth) trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord” (Eph. 5:8-10).
“Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.” (2 Cor. 5:9)
“…live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.” (1 Thess. 4:1).
“…walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Col. 1:10).
Nehemiah Ryan © 2013
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