Monday Morning Devotion-September 21, 2015

Seek First

But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.     Matthew 6:33

           So, what do you seek first?  Think about it for a minute.  When you awaken in the morning what is usually the first thing that comes to mind.  Is it coffee?  Well, OK, after that, what?

            A lot of it depends on where you are at the time.  Maybe instead of waking up in familiar surroundings you are somewhere on vacation or on a business trip.  If you were in the military in a combat zone your first thoughts might be about safety or your mission for that day.

            Our first thoughts may not be the same everyday.  They may vary from time to time and place to place.  We are always seeking answers.  We are thinking about our situation and how that can be made better.  Or we are thinking about family or friends and how we can make their lives better.

            We want to succeed in the things we do and in that vein there is one solid piece of advice I can pass along.  "Seek first his kingdom."  As we read in Matthew if we do this the other things, those that immediately occupy and pre-occupy our minds. will be added to you.  That even includes coffee if you have been to the grocery store or you go to Starbucks.

            That verse in Matthew (6:33) is a favorite of my friend Dave Van Halanger, who was the strength coach for Florida State football and then for the University of Georgia.  He used to quote that to the players all the time.  Dave was devoted to not only growing their physical strength, but mental and spiritual well-being as well.

            Once there was a writer for a national magazine, I believe it was Sports Illustrated, but don't hold me to thatwaiting to see Dave in his office at FSU.  He was going to write an article on success college strength coaches around the country. There were several players waiting to see Dave as well.  As the writer waited while those who were ahead of him went into Dave's office one-by-one he noticed, through the window, that the coach had a Bible on his desk.  Frequently, in the conversations he would open the Bible and read something to the player.

            When it was the writer's time to go in he questioned Van Halanger about this.  He wondered if that wasn't illegal at least unadvisable to get religion mixed up in process.

The coach explained that the messages he shared were never forced upon the players but they were seeking this kind of counseling and welcomed it.  He said he was just trying to help strengthen their walk as well as their bodies and mindset.

            Then the coach surprised the writer when he asked.  "How about your walk?  How is that going?  Where are you in your faith walk? "

            I'm sure it was not a question the writer have ever been asked on an assignment.  After all he was the one who was supposed to be asking the questions.  But, Coach Van felt strongly about what a person should seek first.

            Seeking what God has in His plan for us takes the pressure off.  We just have to be alert to what that is.  If we do that He will protect us and keep us from as Sarah Young says, "scattering our energy to the winds."

            What does this seeking Him first really mean?  How do we do that?  Is it even possible?

The Life Application Bible (LAB) says, "To seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness means to turn to God first for help, to fill your thoughts with His desires, to take His character for your pattern and to serve and obey Him in everything."

            "What is really important to you?  People, objects, goals and other desires all copete for priority.  And of these can quickly bump God out of first place if you don't actively choose to give Him first place in every area of your life."

            Matthew could share this from first hand experience. "More than any other disciple, Matthew had a clear idea of how much it would cost to follow Jesus, yet he did not hesitate a moment.  When he left his tax-collecting booth, He guaranteed himself unemployment.  For several of the other disciples there was always fishing to turn to but for Matthew there was no turning back."  So he truly did seek first the Kingdom.  With Matthew this was not just idle talk.

            OK so maybe it was boring sitting there in that tax booth all day and collecting taxes.  For the most part people hated tax collectors anyway.  This was a new and exciting adventure for Matthew, but one that had to have some uncertainty attached to it.  But, on faith he stepped out seeking first the Kingdom.

            But as LAB points out two things happen when Matthew stepped out to follow Him. "First, Jesus gave him a new life.  He not only belonged to a new group: He belonged to the Son of God.  He was not just accepting a different way of life; he was now an accepted person.  For a despised tax collector, that change must have been wonderful."

            "Second,  Jesus gave Matthew a new purpose for His skills.  When he followed Jesus , the only tool from his past job that he carried with him was his pen. From the beginning God had made him a record keeper. Jesus' call eventually allowed him to put his skills to their finest work.  Matthew was a keen observer and he undoubtedly recorded what he saw going on around him. The Gospel that bears his name came as a result."

            Seeking first His kingdom has untold benefits that are life-changing.  It is easy to start.  Just seek Him in the morning and the rest of the things you experience will begin to fall into place.

Monday Prayer:  Lord help us to seek You in the morning and throughout every portion of our day.  Amen!          

Author's Note:  Seek the Kingdom first this week and you will be blessed.