“Thus says the Lord, ‘Israel is My son…let my son go, that he may serve Me.'” Exodus 4:22,23
Dear Ones:
It is difficult in our day and time to realize that God’s priorities and objectives have never changed. With the distractions of world-wide media filling the airwaves, and “knowledge” which is increasing exponentially, there is hardly any time at all to stop, and seek to know the mind of God. The result is that we are caught up in the world’s perspective, mentality, and preoccupation. Jesus, in speaking of the imperative to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,” addressed the issues of “treasures on earth,” anxiety concerning food, drink, and clothing, , even being anxious concerning about what could occur tomorrow. He did not say that we do not attend to these matters, but they are in no wise to dominate us. He declared that “…the Gentiles seek all these things.” (Matt. 6:32) The world is dominated, preoccupied, sometimes obsessed by these things, to the exclusion and negligence of that which is of primary importance…that which counts for eternity. Treasures on earth, and those in heaven, are two very different things. One will last; the other will perish.
In Exodus, chapter three, we find Moses as a shepherd, taking the flock of Jethro “to the backside of the desert.” It is there in the quietness, and the stillness of the countryside, that God speaks to him of “the kingdom of God.” Why do we say, “kingdom of God,” when the text speaks of the deliverance of Israel from Egypt, specifically Pharaoh? It is because God is desiring, and willing, to set up His kingdom in the hearts of men. That means that the “kingdom of this world,” which is not of Christ, will no longer hold sway, and control, over the heart and soul of man. When God told Moses that he was to say to Pharaoh, “…Israel is my son…let my son (or people) go,” He is speaking of His kingdom coming, and His will being done in their lives. That “will” means deliverance, salvation, a bringing the people into a land of promise, where the promises of God are fully realized. It means that, where God reigns, there is Life and blessing. This was the objective of God for Israel. It is also His objective today. Seeking His kingdom and His righteousness is, and must ever be, the FIRST thing. Where does it begin in our lives? It begins in believing prayer: “Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. THE KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE DONE.” (Matt. 6:9,10) If we will pray in this manner, with whole-hearted perseverance, we will begin to see God bring us increasingly into conformity with His will. We will discover that we will be seeking the coming of His kingdom increasingly in our own hearts, and also, in the hearts of those around us, many of whom do not know Christ. May God enable us to believe Him for His will to be done on this earth, in us and others, as it is in heaven.
Dear Father, teach us Thy ways, and deliver us from the distractions of this world. Enable us to be about our Father’s business in seeking first Thy kingdom. Give us Thy eternal perspective, and grace to live according to it. We thank Thee in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad