Seeking God's Kingdom or your own??

"Seek ye FIRST the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you." Matt. 6:33

While following this command may mean different things in specific, it means one thing to all of us…Christ is to be first. Aligning our life and priorities with Heavenly goals must be utmost in our minds.

As we reflect on our daily life, let us ask ourselves again…am I truly seeking HIM first in all that I do? Am I seeking the Kingdom of God first, or am I seeking to advance my own earthly Kingdom?

In the Bible Study booklet that we're currently publishing, I wrote the following thoughts for contemplation, and let me share them here:

Applying God’s Word to your Life

How does God’s Word affect the following areas of your life?

• Life Goals: Do these reflect the Word of God? (See Matt. 6:33, Jn. 17:3)

• Daily Decisions and Life Decisions: Are these made based on Biblical principles or your own feelings and desires? (See Prov. 3:5,6, Prov. 14:12, Prov. 11:14)

• Attitudes: What are your thoughts and the motive of your actions? Are you looking at life through the lens of God’s Word, or through your own limited critical human mindset? (See Phil. 2:5, 2 Cor. 10:5, Phil. 4:8, Ps. 19:14, Ps. 119:165, Isa. 55:8,9)

• Lifestyles: Does your lifestyle (from how you spend your money to what you do for entertainment, to what you eat and how you spend your time) glorify God, or is it just all about what you want to do? (See 1 Cor. 10:31, 1 Cor. 6:19, 2 Tim. 2:3)

• If your goals/decisions/attitudes/lifestyles do not align with God’s Word, are you willing to change?

“Obedience is the test of discipleship. It is the keeping of the commandments that proves the sincerity of our professions of love. When the doctrine we accept kills sin in the heart, purifies the soul from defilement, bears fruit unto holiness, we may know that it is the truth of God.” Mount of Blessings, p. 146

"Men are no more favorable to Bible simplicity or to practical godliness than in Christ’s day. Few accepted the world’s Redeemer; few will now accept the message of his servants. Though the multitude eagerly flocked around him to receive temporal blessings, yet Christ sadly declares, “Ye will not come to me that ye might have life.” Thus the mass of mankind are today seeking earthly good, to the neglect of eternal riches." – Signs of The Times, March 16, 1882