Seeking Things or Seeking Him?
BIBLE MEDITATION
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Have you ever noticed that along with the command in Matthew 6:34 not to worry, correspondingly there comes a promise from God to take care of us? One of the most frequent promises is that we will be fed—God will take care of our needs.
Then why does God promise that “all these things will be added unto you.”? So we will not starve? No. Friend, a lot of people who don’t trust God have a pantry full of food. The average unsaved person is thinking about money, homes, cars, clothes, jewelry, etc. Jesus knows we have a one-track mind and cannot serve two masters. If these are the things you are seeking, then you are not seeking the Lord. He is telling us, “You trust Me. Bring all of your attention into trusting Me and doing good, and I’ll take care of you.”
ACTION POINT:
Today each time you’re tempted to worry, bring your concerns to your Heavenly Father and ask Him to help you trust Him.
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Have you ever noticed that along with the command in Matthew 6:34 not to worry, correspondingly there comes a promise from God to take care of us? One of the most frequent promises is that we will be fed—God will take care of our needs.
Then why does God promise that “all these things will be added unto you.”? So we will not starve? No. Friend, a lot of people who don’t trust God have a pantry full of food. The average unsaved person is thinking about money, homes, cars, clothes, jewelry, etc. Jesus knows we have a one-track mind and cannot serve two masters. If these are the things you are seeking, then you are not seeking the Lord. He is telling us, “You trust Me. Bring all of your attention into trusting Me and doing good, and I’ll take care of you.”
ACTION POINT:
Today each time you’re tempted to worry, bring your concerns to your Heavenly Father and ask Him to help you trust Him.
~Adrian Rogers~
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Isaiah 59:5
They weave the spider's web.
See the spider's web, and behold in it a most suggestive picture of the hypocrite's religion. It is meant to catch his prey: the spider fattens himself on flies, and the Pharisee has his reward. Foolish persons are easily entrapped by the loud professions of pretenders, and even the more judicious cannot always escape. Philip baptized Simon Magus, whose guileful declaration of faith was so soon exploded by the stern rebuke of Peter. Custom, reputation, praise, advancement, and other flies, are the small game which hypocrites take in their nets. A spider's web is a marvel of skill: look at it and admire the cunning hunter's wiles. Is not a deceiver's religion equally wonderful? How does he make so barefaced a lie appear to be a truth? How can he make his tinsel answer so well the purpose of gold? A spider's web comes all from the creature's own bowels. The bee gathers her wax from flowers, the spider sucks no flowers, and yet she spins out her material to any length. Even so hypocrites find their trust and hope within themselves; their anchor was forged on their own anvil, and their cable twisted by their own hands. They lay their own foundation, and hew out the pillars of their own house, disdaining to be debtors to the sovereign grace of God. But a spider's web is very frail. It is curiously wrought, but not enduringly manufactured. It is no match for the servant's broom, or the traveller's staff. The hypocrite needs no battery of Armstrongs to blow his hope to pieces, a mere puff of wind will do it. Hypocritical cobwebs will soon come down when the besom of destruction begins its purifying work. Which reminds us of one more thought, viz., that such cobwebs are not to be endured in the Lord's house: He will see to it that they and those who spin them shall be destroyed for ever. O my soul, be thou resting on something better than a spider's web. Be the Lord Jesus thine eternal hiding-place.
~Charles Spurgeon~
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God's Favor
Blessed is the man who listens to me [wisdom], watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord. Proverbs 8:34–35
God’s favor is the fruit of friends who find wisdom. They seek wisdom by first watching at the doors of heaven, waiting patiently at the feet of their Savior Jesus. It is humbling to think that each day almighty God is available to commission our cause for Christ. The wisdom of Jesus is what we pursue because His is pure and profound.
Like Able, the Almighty looks for the best offering for blessing. Therefore, honor God by offering Him the first fruits of your day. Just as He deserves first dibs on your money, so He expects the beginning of your day. Get up and go to God first. There you discover a wealth of wisdom, and under the shadow of your Savior Jesus Christ you receive His favor.
“Then that person can pray to God and find favor with him, they will see God’s face and shout for joy; he will restore them to full well-being” (Job 33:26).
Happiness happens to those who wait for wisdom. His blessing cannot be rushed; so rest in Him. The favor of God is well worth the wait; like a newborn, the joy is unspeakable. How many times have we rushed ahead, outside the canopy of Christ’s blessing? The Israelites learned to stay under the cloud of God and be led by faith. Indeed, there is no spiritual oxygen to sustain those in an out-of-favor environment. It is lifeless and lonely. However, for those on whom their heavenly Father’s favor rests, there is rest.
His blessing provides strength for the journey and perseverance to stay on the trail of trust. Jesus experienced the favor of His heavenly Father when He submitted to public baptism. On what issue of obedience do you need wisdom to continually experience the favor of your heavenly Father? Your life is alive and vibrant because the Lord favors you. You are a favorite of your heavenly Father because you are learning to wait on Him and humbly walk with the wise.
“He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8 nasb).
Prayer: Heavenly Father keep me trustworthy with Your blessings, so Your favor can rest on my life.
~Wisdom Hunters Devotional~
God’s favor is the fruit of friends who find wisdom. They seek wisdom by first watching at the doors of heaven, waiting patiently at the feet of their Savior Jesus. It is humbling to think that each day almighty God is available to commission our cause for Christ. The wisdom of Jesus is what we pursue because His is pure and profound.
Like Able, the Almighty looks for the best offering for blessing. Therefore, honor God by offering Him the first fruits of your day. Just as He deserves first dibs on your money, so He expects the beginning of your day. Get up and go to God first. There you discover a wealth of wisdom, and under the shadow of your Savior Jesus Christ you receive His favor.
“Then that person can pray to God and find favor with him, they will see God’s face and shout for joy; he will restore them to full well-being” (Job 33:26).
Happiness happens to those who wait for wisdom. His blessing cannot be rushed; so rest in Him. The favor of God is well worth the wait; like a newborn, the joy is unspeakable. How many times have we rushed ahead, outside the canopy of Christ’s blessing? The Israelites learned to stay under the cloud of God and be led by faith. Indeed, there is no spiritual oxygen to sustain those in an out-of-favor environment. It is lifeless and lonely. However, for those on whom their heavenly Father’s favor rests, there is rest.
His blessing provides strength for the journey and perseverance to stay on the trail of trust. Jesus experienced the favor of His heavenly Father when He submitted to public baptism. On what issue of obedience do you need wisdom to continually experience the favor of your heavenly Father? Your life is alive and vibrant because the Lord favors you. You are a favorite of your heavenly Father because you are learning to wait on Him and humbly walk with the wise.
“He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8 nasb).
Prayer: Heavenly Father keep me trustworthy with Your blessings, so Your favor can rest on my life.
~Wisdom Hunters Devotional~
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