"....For Your Father knows that you need all these things, But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Jesus)
The Word translated, "first," means, "before, at the beginning." Jesus' and John the Baptist's first public Words are, "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand." Or, can we say, "Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven..," not, "for your blessings."
In a recent "Plumbline" article from Bob Mumford, he writes that "none of the great creeds of the Church mention the Kingdom of God as a major theme of the Gospel. Jesus' admonition was to put His Kingdom first and let everything else be added." This says so much of the Church, especially of the last 55 years.
I pray that you and I do what Jesus commands us to do, and not what alloyed Church History has proclaimed and demonstrated.
Father, in Jesus' Name, I really pray that I may more fully understand and live, "Seek before," Your Kingdom. Amen.
Hebrews 12:2
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
Hebrews 12:2
