TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33
Listen: Matthew 6
TODAY’S MESSAGE
“What do I want?” How we answer this powerful question will go a long way towards whether 2018 for us will be a year of fear or a year of peace.
This question is essentially what Jesus is asking those who are listening to the Sermon on the Mount. “Do you want to continue pursuing material things or do you want to pursue much greater things?” “Do you want to find your value and status in what the world offers or do you want to find it in who you are in Jesus.” What do you want?
Jesus is clear that we have a choice. We can pursue “things” or we can pursue God’s honor, his reign and his will. If we seek the latter, God has promised to provide the necessities of life. Because he does—we are not to worry.
The challenge for many of us is that we want both. We want the “things” while, at the same time, we really do want to “seek first [God’s] kingdom and his righteousness.” But it doesn’t work that way. Earlier in this same message Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money” (Matthew 6:24). What do you want?
IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY
Answer the question today, “What do I want?” To see how honestly you answered it, ask someone close to you, “Based on what you see in my life, what do I want?” To help you become a “kingdom seeker,” listen to the 11th-century Irish hymn “Be Thou My Vision” performed by Citizens and Saints.
Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.
