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Kingdom First (2)
'Seek the kingdom of God above all else' Matthew 6:33
Yesterday we started to look at the difference between knowing what the ink in your Bible says and knowing what the ink in your heart does. Matthew 12:50 says, 'Obedience is thicker than blood. The person who obeys my Heavenly Father's will, is my brother and sister and mother' (TM).
Jesus says we should be compassionate, and yet how many times do we walk straight past the Big Issue guy as if he were a ghost? Jesus says we should patch up with friends who've hurt us. He doesn't mention anything about revenge or revelling in it when said friend comes a cropper.
Jesus says we should surrender ourselves: 'If any of you wants to be My follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross, and follow Me.'
Notice he doesn't say, 'Pray, pray and pray again until God changes His mind and follows your plans'.
Jesus says we should think like a servant, not elbow our way to the front or hoist ourselves to the top. We should use our talent and muscle to help others rise to the top.
Putting the kingdom of God above all else isn't in line with the 'I, me, mine' disease of modern life. 'Don't look for short-cuts to God. The market is flooded with sure-fire, easygoing formulas for a successful life ... the way to life - to God! - is vigorous and requires total attention' (Matt. 7-13 TM).
written by Bob Gass
'Seek the kingdom of God above all else' Matthew 6:33
Yesterday we started to look at the difference between knowing what the ink in your Bible says and knowing what the ink in your heart does. Matthew 12:50 says, 'Obedience is thicker than blood. The person who obeys my Heavenly Father's will, is my brother and sister and mother' (TM).
Jesus says we should be compassionate, and yet how many times do we walk straight past the Big Issue guy as if he were a ghost? Jesus says we should patch up with friends who've hurt us. He doesn't mention anything about revenge or revelling in it when said friend comes a cropper.
Jesus says we should surrender ourselves: 'If any of you wants to be My follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross, and follow Me.'
Notice he doesn't say, 'Pray, pray and pray again until God changes His mind and follows your plans'.
Jesus says we should think like a servant, not elbow our way to the front or hoist ourselves to the top. We should use our talent and muscle to help others rise to the top.
Putting the kingdom of God above all else isn't in line with the 'I, me, mine' disease of modern life. 'Don't look for short-cuts to God. The market is flooded with sure-fire, easygoing formulas for a successful life ... the way to life - to God! - is vigorous and requires total attention' (Matt. 7-13 TM).
written by Bob Gass
