Text- Matthew 6:33 – “But seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you”
The centrality of the concept of the kingdom of God to Christianity cannot be overemphasized. It’s basically what the Christian faith is all about, and what we live for as believers. It is the summation of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.
I mentioned when we started this series that the message that Jesus preached during his earthly ministry was the message of the kingdom.
“From that time, Jesus began to preach, and to say, repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” – Matthew 4:17
Furthermore, when Jesus sent out His twelve disciples, who we later came to know as the foundational Apostles, the message He sent them to preach was crystal clear – The gospel of the kingdom of God.
“Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God…” – Luke 9:1-2
Again, a scan through Matthew 13 shows that many of Jesus’ parables were illustrations of the kingdom. In fact, when Jesus was explaining the parable of the sower to his disciples, he referred to the word of God plainly as the word of the kingdom.
“When anyone heareth the word of the kingdom, and understands it not, then the wicked one would come and catch away what which was sown in his heart; this is he which received seed by the wayside” – Matthew 13:19
In explaining another parable, Jesus unequivocally calls righteous people the Children of the kingdom.
“The field is the world’; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one” – Matthew 13:38
As a matter of fact, the inheritance of the saints, according to Jesus himself, is the kingdom of God.
“Then shall the king say unto them on His right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” – Matthew 25:34
So then, it is no surprise when Jesus says we should seek first the kingdom of God. This indeed should be the principal goal of every Christian… Not just to seek the kingdom of God, but to make it a matte of priority – to seek it FIRST!
- Offer your very life as an act of worship to Jesus, the King
- Pray for the establishment of the kingdom of God
- Treasure and prioritize the kingdom above all else
- Cultivate a kingdom mindset by studying the scripture
- Preach the gospel of the kingdom of God
- Bestow labor in the service of the kingdom
- Prepare to meet the King (Jesus) at His second coming
PRAYER
My father who art in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Let your kingdom be established in increasing measures in my heart, and on this earth in Jesus Name. Amen.
Image Credit: beliefnet.com