Kingdom First

But seek first the kingdom of God

Matt 6:33 (HCSB)

This passage reminds us that the Christ follower has a priority given from God.  Our lives are to be focused on the Kingdom before anything else.  We can be distracted by so many things.  Jesus reminds us that it should always be Kingdom first.

Today we may just need a small reminder to not be distracted by all the other "stuff" of life and to keep our focus on His Kingdom.

Treasure

Don’t collect for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But collect for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matt 6:19-21 (HCSB)

Eye on the Prize

Then the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of Hosts, but the Israelites have abandoned Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are looking for me to take my life.”

1 Kings 19:9-10 (HCSB)

Was Elijah correct? Well yes he was. His assessment of the situation as best as he knew was correct. He had been zealous, they have killed other and are after him. But his real problem is much simpler and more severe. It is simple, he took his eyes off of God and on his situation. It is severe, because when we do this we are doomed to defeat. Eyes off the prize will always cause us to fall into failure.

Consider this: When playing baseball what are you told? "Keep your eye on the ball!" In golf, "Keep your head down." Why? So you are sure to hit the ball. In the Christian life God is whom we are to keep our eye on. Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.

Keep your eye on Him and you will always be on track.

Seek First

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.

Matt 6:33 (HCSB)

Seek First. two simple words that remind us of priorities. Everyone has priorities. They are things that we make more important than other things. Sometimes our priorities are good and sometimes they are not. Jesus tells us that as a Christ Follower we must have some priorities. There are two; His Kingdom and His righteousness.

Jesus message is don't make priority the things of this world, even the most basic of necessities. Make priority His Kingdom on earth and being righteous like Him.

Simple words Big challenge!