‘Seek first the Kingdom of God’ (Matthew 6:33, NKJV)
Until the sixteenth century, ordinary people believed the earth was the centre of the universe and the sun revolved around it. Then an astronomer called Copernicus came along and argued that the sun didn’t revolve around the earth; the earth revolved around the sun. In so doing, he revolutionised the scientific world forever. And when it comes to discipleship, Jesus did the same thing: ‘Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.’
At its core, sinfulness is selfishness. It’s enthroning yourself ―- your desires, your needs, your plans ― above all else. You may still seek God, but you don’t seek Him ‘first’. Instead of trying to fulfil His purposes, you try to get Him to fulfil yours.
Who’s following whom? Instead of following Jesus, you’re trying to get Him to follow you.
It doesn’t work that way. ‘Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.’” (Matthew 16:24-25, NKJV).
Note the words ‘loses his life for My sake.’ There’s a lot of talk today about ‘finding yourself’. The way to find yourself - is to seek God. D.L. Moody said, ‘The world has yet to see what God will do with and for and through and in and by the man or woman who is fully and wholly consecrated to Him.’
If you’re willing to surrender yourself to God, there’s no telling what He will do with you.
From The Word for Today, published by Vision Christian Media. Free introductory issues of this devotional may be obtained from Vision Christian Media by phoning 1800 007 770.