Setting the Agenda

“Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33)

How easy it is to forget this! As Christians, we are taught to put our faith in God, and always seek His blessings on our lives. But do we really appreciate the fullness of the command Jesus gives us here?

The key word is ‘first’. Saying “Lord, I plan to do this—please bless my plans” is not putting Him first. Saying “Lord, I want to seek your will, and I want your will to be like this” is not putting Him first. It’s hard to let go—because doing so would be a leap of faith. What guarantee do we get that trusting God is the best thing to do? The only guarantee is the words and actions of Jesus. And that ought to be enough. By looking at the cross, any doubt about His intentions should fade. There can be no greater love than that which we witness at Calvary.

This is the man I wish to follow. Do I always do it? No—for I am human, and I fail, and my faith is also only human. I long for living in a relationship with Jesus where I trust him completely and put Him first in my life.

Lord, help me to seek first your kingdom. Help me to have faith in you and trust your guidance. I want to live my life according to your will, not mine. I want to follow your agenda, not mine. Hold on to me, as I try to hold on to you. Let your promises come to life in me by your Spirit. Amen.