Seek First the Kingdom

When we “Seek The Kingdom of GOD“, we can experience
the “True Riches of HIS Kingdom” in this life.

Matthew 6:33 says
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you”.

This verse also talks about HIS righteousness but that is altogether a different meditation. Today, we are just going to focus and meditate on seeking the kingdom of God.

We often Hear : Repenting of our sins, believing in Jesus and then getting baptized is a way to seek HIS eternal kingdom. It’s all true and cannot be denied. Yes we ought to do all of this because “we all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” according to Romans 3:23. And in Romans 6:23 “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”.

But, between repenting, believing and baptizing, we often overlook the temptations of Jesus before he started HIS ministry. There was a process of overcoming those temptations for Jesus to fulfill His Father’s work on the cross.

I believe that by closely examining these temptations and recognizing how Jesus triumphed over them, we can inspire ourselves to keep our focus on the Spiritual Kingdom, just as Jesus did during his temptations.

We would be able to see the Kingdom of GOD just as Jesus clearly knew and saw his Father’s kingdom.

We would be able to enter into HIS Kingdom through Jesus, because of his finished work on the cross.

Jesus’s Temptations

These temptations reveal our sinful nature and Jesus overcoming those temptations reveal our baptism.

Temptation 1 (Matthew 4:3,4)

When Jesus fasted for forty days and forty nights, then HE was hungry.

Now, I am not sure about you guys but I will be famished after fasting for that long and I would eat anything that is given to me. Wouldn’t you after that kind of fasting?

But, look what Jesus says to the tempter when he comes to him and tempts HIM by saying “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread”. Jesus said to him “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God”.

Here, what we see is mental and spiritual strength of our Lord Jesus. We know that HE is God incarnated in flesh, born in a physical body that has its weaknesses but still overcame his physical weakness by the true word of God.

No matter how our mortal body feels : Don’t give in to the temptations of the physical world.
No matter how hungry we are : Don’t give in to the materialistic things.
No matter what natural state we are in : Focus on every word of the holy book.
No matter what our physical need is : Always remember to live each day by every word that God speaks to us.

Live by faith no matter in what kind of physical situation we are in.

If we cannot overcome the temptations of this world then how can we understand the spiritual world? If we are weak in this physical body then let’s meditate on HIS word daily to be strong in times of temptation.

Isn’t the knowledge and wisdom of the kingdom itself needed to enter in it? Isn’t spiritual strength much needed in any kingdom?

Temptation 2 ((Matthew 4:36,7))

Now, let’s look at the second temptation where tempter took Jesus to the holy city and set HIM on the pinnacle (great height ) of the temple :

And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

But Jesus said unto him : It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

Jesus showed that : As long as we live in this world,

we would try to reach greater height in life.
we would try to acquire lot of materialistic things.
we would try to build our greater wealth.

But,

once we get there,
once we have what we struggle for,
once we have what we strive for,
once we have all what we have worked so hard for,

We still need to Seek the Kingdom and be mindful about it.

Once we are blessed with great career, position, or financial freedom or wealth or anything of this materialistic physical world, we should not involve ourselves in deep dark worldly and physical desires but find our way out with the help of the light that is within us.

Matthew 16:26 says :
For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Temptation 3 (Matthew 4:8-10)

Tempter takes Jesus to an exceedingly high mountain and showed HIM all the kingdoms of the world and their glory and said to Jesus

All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me. But, Jesus said to him Away with you Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ and Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.

Once we achieve the greatest height in life :

we cannot look down upon life.
we cannot stand above everyone else and make them worship us.
we cannot ask the people to glorify us, to praise us and to serve us.
we cannot give in to the glory and worldly pleasures.

But instead seek and serve only God.

We need to remind ourselves that “Seeking Kingdom of God” means to be truthful, be faithful, be obedient and to completely and faithfully believe in our Heavenly Father.

After the temptations Jesus started HIS ministry and taught us about :

how we cannot serve God and worldly riches at the same time,
how the eye is the lamp of the body,
how not to lay up treasures on earth but in heaven,
how to fast only to be seen by God,
do good to please God,
love our enemies,
marriage is sacred,
go extra mile to help someone.
and so on…

In the beginning

The kingdom of God was already established by HIM and mankind was placed in it.

But one sin, one disobedience separated mankind from God and his Kingdom.

Just ponder about how the life would have been before the sin?

The answer is in Matthew 19: 14
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not forbid them, for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” The answer does not stop there.

In the same book of Matthew 18:3-4, it says
“Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven”

God is saying to us that we need to look at that kingdom because that’s what HE wants us to seek.

What is HIS kingdom?

where everybody is happy.
where there is peace.
where there are green pastures.
where there is no problem, no worry, no agony, no pain or suffering.
where there is no sickness or illness.
where everyone is victorious in their life.
where no one tries to tear down another brother or sister.
where everyone helps each other out.
and so on…

I can go on and on but that is what he is asking us to Seek.

He is saying look around yourself, look at what I have done for you, look at the sun, moon and stars, look at the heavens and the earth and everything that I have given you.

I created you beautifully in my image and have given you dominion over everything.

Look at the life in and around you. I have given each of you my light.

We need to look at our life and the life of others. We need to empty ourselves and let go of hatred, anger, ego, jealousy, addiction and so on and let Holy Spirit move thru us.

Life is already happening. We need to realize it.
Kingdom is already established, we need to seek it.

I Desire Life