Matthew 6:33 (KJV) “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.”
This is one of the first scripture I felt the relevance of in my heart and memorized. When I first came to faith, God impressed this passage on my heart. I knew that seeking Him first was what I had to do.
If I sought Him first, other things that I wanted and needed (joy, peace, patience, etc.) would be added to me. When I was lost, my carnal mind could not comprehend the things of God, but now that I was born of the Spirit, I could understand spiritual things with the help of the Holy Spirit that had begun to work in my heart and mind. I was not conformed to the things of the world, but I was destined to be transformed into the image of His Son.
According to the Strong’s Concordance, the Greek word for “seek” is zeteo’ (G2212), which means “to seek to find” or “to crave.” Beloved, we must crave and seek the kingdom of God in our lives. It is an ongoing process from the moment we get saved until we die and go onto glory with Jesus. Receiving salvation is not a “one and done” event. It is the beginning of perseverance of diligently seeking Him.
What should we seek?
- Seek to understand God’s way of doing things. “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (I Cor 2:14 KJV). Allow the Holy Spirit to teach you and lead you into all truths.
- Let His word transform your heart. Allow God to replace the lies from the enemy with the truth of His word.
- Align your heart with your hands. “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (James 1:22 NKJV) Read His word with intentionality and apply what you read to your relationships, circumstances, and situations. Apply the Bible’s principles to your life.
- Surrender to His way of doing things. We must exchange our will for His. This is easier when we realize that His plan is best for us. “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5 KJV)
The Righteous and the Wicked Contrasted. Psalms 1:1-3 (KJV)
How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the path of sinners,
Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law, he meditates day and night.
He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season
And its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers.
People that are not saved or actively seeking spiritual matters are not the type of counsel that you want to seek after. You must seek the truth from leaders of the faith. Find a good Bible-based church and learn from the saints in that church, pastors, or lay leaders with solid biblical convictions. Find leaders who are knowledgeable and obedient to the Word of God. Look for the fruit of God’s word in their lives. Don’t pattern your life after well-meaning sinners and expect to be godly in your actions. Let God lead you through prayer and study of the Bible.
Action items:
- Pursue God before you ask for the advice of others.
- Pray and ask God to lead you into His perfect will for your life. Be open to the teaching of the Holy Spirit.
- Find a Bible-based church that teaches the Word of God.
- Pray to be obedient to God’s plan for your life.
