Bible League: Living His Word "But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you."— Luke 12:31 NKJV What comes first for you — the kingdom of God, or stuff? What comes first — food, drink, and clothing, or the kingdom of God? The questions concern the spiritual direction of your life. Spiritually, are you living a life of the kingdom, or are you living a life of your own choosing? Spiritually, are you living a life of surrender to the will of the heavenly king and His kingdom, or are you living a selfish and self-centered life? It's important to know the answers to these questions, as they reveal your heart and explain a lot about yourself. On the one hand, if you live a selfish and self-centered life, then you will tend to worry about food, drink, clothing, and all the other stuff people need to live their lives. You will worry, because acquiring these things is all up to you. Will you be able to find it? If you find it, will you be able to acquire it? Who knows? It's up to you, and you better get out there and get the job done. Failure is not an option. Anxiety motivates you. On the other hand, if you live a life of surrender to the heavenly king, then you will tend not to worry about the stuff you need. Since you've decided to place the kingdom first, the heavenly Father provides the stuff you need. You don't have to worry about it. That doesn't mean that you don't have to go out and get it, it just means that you don't have to worry about it. The heavenly Father is on the job, and He is helping you. Instead of worry, there is faith in the Father. The difference between the two spiritual directions, then, is not between those that need stuff and those that don't, or between those that get stuff and those that don't. We all need stuff. The difference is between those who place themselves and their needs first and those who place the kingdom and its requirements first. The difference is between those that worry about stuff and those that rest on God's promises. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingIsaiah 34, 35, 36 Isaiah 34 -- God's Judgments against the Nations NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Isaiah 35 -- The Joyful Will Flourish in Zion NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Isaiah 36 -- Sennacherib Invades Judah, Threatens Jerusalem NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Philippians 2 Philippians 2 -- Your Attitude Should be that of Christ; Becoming Blameless and Pure; Timothy and Epaphroditus NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us—I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving.I am not commanding you to do this. But I am testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches. Insight The Corinthian believers excelled in everything they had—faith, good preaching (speech), much knowledge, much earnestness, much love. Paul wanted them to also be leaders in giving. Giving is a natural response of love. Paul did not order the Corinthians to give, but he encouraged them to prove that their love was sincere. Challenge When you love someone, you want to give him or her your time and attention and to provide for his or her needs. If you refuse to help, your love is not as genuine as you say. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon John 4:14 Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst.He who is a believer in Jesus finds enough in his Lord to satisfy him now, and to content him for evermore. The believer is not the man whose days are weary for want of comfort, and whose nights are long from absence of heart-cheering thought, for he finds in religion such a spring of joy, such a fountain of consolation, that he is content and happy. Put him in a dungeon and he will find good company; place him in a barren wilderness, he will eat the bread of heaven; drive him away from friendship, he will meet the "friend that sticketh closer than a brother." Blast all his gourds, and he will find shadow beneath the Rock of Ages; sap the foundation of his earthly hopes, but his heart will still be fixed, trusting in the Lord. The heart is as insatiable as the grave till Jesus enters it, and then it is a cup full to overflowing. There is such a fulness in Christ that he alone is the believer's all. The true saint is so completely satisfied with the all-sufficiency of Jesus that he thirsts no more--except it be for deeper draughts of the living fountain. In that sweet manner, believer, shalt thou thirst; it shall not be a thirst of pain, but of loving desire; thou wilt find it a sweet thing to be panting after a fuller enjoyment of Jesus' love. One in days of yore said, "I have been sinking my bucket down into the well full often, but now my thirst after Jesus has become so insatiable, that I long to put the well itself to my lips, and drink right on." Is this the feeling of thine heart now, believer? Dost thou feel that all thy desires are satisfied in Jesus, and that thou hast no want now, but to know more of him, and to have closer fellowship with him? Then come continually to the fountain, and take of the water of life freely. Jesus will never think you take too much, but will ever welcome you, saying, "Drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved." Daily Light on the Daily Path Revelation 19:6 Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.Job 42:2 "I know that You can do all things, And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted. Luke 18:27 But He said, "The things that are impossible with people are possible with God." Daniel 4:35 "All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, But He does according to His will in the host of heaven And among the inhabitants of earth; And no one can ward off His hand Or say to Him, 'What have You done?' Isaiah 43:13 "Even from eternity I am He, And there is none who can deliver out of My hand; I act and who can reverse it?" Mark 14:36 And He was saying, "Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will." Matthew 9:28,29 When He entered the house, the blind men came up to Him, and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to Him, "Yes, Lord." • Then He touched their eyes, saying, "It shall be done to you according to your faith." Matthew 8:23 When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. Isaiah 9:6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Psalm 20:7 Some boast in chariots and some in horses, But we will boast in the name of the LORD, our God. 2 Chronicles 32:7 "Be strong and courageous, do not fear or be dismayed because of the king of Assyria nor because of all the horde that is with him; for the one with us is greater than the one with him. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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