"SEEK YE FIRST"

I used to lead a song entitled Seek Ye First (No. 883 in our hymnal). The words of this hymn are actually the very words of Jesus. As part of the famous Sermon On The Mount, Jesus said: "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you" (Matt. 6:33).

Jesus asks us to establish priorities in our lives: His Kingdom must be put first. Here is our Savior's plea that in the affairs of life we place His Kingdom first. Another translation reads: "The thing you should want most is God's kingdom and doing what God wants" (New Century Version).

I know that it seems difficult in this day of many demands on our time and concentration, but if we put God and His kingdom at the top of our list of priorities, the other pressures seem to fall into place behind Him.

So in a practical way what does it mean to SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD? Seeking God's rule and God's way of living means:
--- "...that we love one another. This is love, that we walk according to his commandments" (2 John 5, 6).
--- that we "grow in the grace and knowledge our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Pet. 3:18).
--- that we "seek the things that are above, where Christ is" (Col. 3:1).
--- that we seek purity, knowing Jesus said, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God" (Matt. 5:8).
--- that we understand that man's whole duty is to "Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man" (Eccles. 12:13).

The thoughts above and everything that would follow them is seeking first God's kingdom.

Are you SEEKING FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD?