Printed from: https://archive.cmf.org.uk/global/electives/?id=26&page=devotions
Matthew 6: 33; Daniel 4: 3
Seek First the Kingdom
Jesus is talking to His disciples and the people who really want to listen to what He has to say. He has been instructing them, warning them against undisciplined and unfavourable behaviour, following up the teaching of the beatitudes. In all His teaching He emphasises the element of love and concern they should have for others. He also emphasises their unnecessary and constant tendency to worry and be concerned. In conclusion, He commands them to look to the glories of the Kingdom, and to listen to Him. In doing this, the things they have been so worried about will all sort themselves out. But they must listen to Him.
Daniel emphasises how great God’s Kingdom really is, and the need for us to rejoice in the wonder of a Kingdom that is everlasting, and in which God will reign forever and ever.
Even the most spiritually minded of us tend to consider the necessities of life, before considering the Kingdom of God. I must eat; I must be clothed; I must make money; I must get a job, etc. Are you anxious about such things? But our Lord said, ‘do not worry about your life...’ (Matthew 6: 25). This does not mean that you neglect your life and let your standards drop, for this would mean neglecting the Temple of the Holy Spirit. ‘Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own’ (I Corinthians 6: 19).
No, Jesus meant that you should make your relationship with God the dominating factor in your life, and everything else should take second place. Get your priorities right and God will see to it that everything else will be taken care of and you will then have no cause to worry.
Prayer and Action
Spend some prayerfully meditating on the Beatitudes (Matthew 5: 1 - 12) and on the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6: 9 - 15).
