July 21, 2019
Morning Service

We are now 2/3 of the way through our study on the Sermon on the Mount.  There are not many difficult parables to try to decipher in this teaching as Jesus is telling it just as like it is plain and simple.  His teachings are easy to understand but sometimes very difficult to place into action in our lives.  Last week Jesus warned us to be careful where we place our treasures because that is where our heart will be also.  He informed us that forgiving others is not only a good thing but is commanded to be done because we ourselves are forgiven by God.  We were told that fasting is to be done just like our giving and prayer life; in secret keeping it personally between us and God.  Jesus told us not to worry about things of this life, but to fully trust God to take care of us.  Trusting Him is the cure for all the stress in our lives.  It is not that we can live the care free life of “Hakuna matata,” but we are to make plans, living wisely by being good stewards of our time and money as we follow the standards God has given us.  In the final word however, we must be always willing to yield our will to His.  That is how Jesus summarizes all this with perhaps the most difficult but rewarding challenge so far in the discourse that really sums it all up for us.

Mat 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

            Our main and foremost priority in our lives is to “seek first the kingdom of God.”  Our relationship with our Heavenly Father that is made possible by Jesus’ death upon the cross should be the single most important relationship in our life.  He needs to be our all in all and our everything.  If we can come to that point of surrendering our entire heart to Him, then Jesus promises that “all these things shall be added to you.”  That means if He is first in your life, He will take care of every other aspect of your life freeing you to simple serve Him as the treasure of your heart.  James tells this as far as our relationship with God:

 

Jas 4:8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

 “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”  We must take steps toward God and He will in turn come closer to us.  By being here this morning, you are putting forth an effort to seek God by obeying His command; drawing nearer to Him.  Many years ago God moved me to a much closer walk with Him through scriptures like this but used this one specifically in Hebrews 11:6; which is known as the “faith chapter” or I like to call it the “Hall of Fame of faith” as the writer mentions many who truly did “Seek first the kingdom of God.”

 

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

            If I do not have faith in who God is and truly “believe that He is,” then it is impossible for me to live a life that is pleasing to Him.  I cannot simply go through the motions of living a Christian life and not have a deep down faith that He truly exists and that He desires a close and personal relationship with me. I must believe that He is and that He will reward me as I “diligently seek Him.”  The relationship begins with the first step of believing (faith) and then the next step is my acting upon that belief.   I must commit with all my heart, mind, body and soul (diligently with great effort) to follow Him seeking His will for my life because I love Him.

 

  That verse moved me to look deep into my soul and forced me to honestly ask myself if I did really and truly believe.  After some deep soul searching, I concluded that I did believe exactly what the scriptures were telling me was true.  I could not deny the existence of God and the fact that I had felt His presence with me through my entire life.  With that established, I had to ask myself the next questions.  Am I diligently seeking Him and am truly I seeking to put God first in my life?  The answer was no I am not, but it was then that it changed.  I was tired of being a pretender just going through the motions of saying and doing the right things but not for the right reasons.  I was living a life of a hypocrite; looking very religious and dedicated on the outside, but inside I had not bought in totally to following Jesus.  I kept God at a comfortable distance so as to be there when I needed Him, but not close enough that I had to be there when He needed me.  I knew there was more to the Christian life but was just not motivated to go there.  I can assure you that living life in that manner is in no way fulfilling or has any form of contentment to it.  There was always this empty part of my life that was crying out for a relationship with God, but I had learned to ignore it.  Serving God, but not putting Him first doesn’t bring a peace that passes understanding into your life it brings restlessness, doubts, and even fear.  I knew there was more, but I needed to commit to “diligently seek” Him and put my relationship with God first in my life.  It was not an immediate lightning strike change but it came a little at a time and I am still on the journey to commit my entire life to Him holding back nothing; finding even deeper levels to my relationship with Him than I ever dreamed possible.

One of the keys to my surrender was that I began to teach children’s church.  I not only had to read scripture, but I had to be able to explain it on a very simple level.  The more I studied the more I desired to study.  It became real to me as the scriptures became alive speaking directly into my heart the truth of God and the love that He has for me.  He has led me down a path I would have never dreamed placing me in this pulpit now for the past two years.  “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you.”  Each day I must choose to seek, serve and follow this Jesus who gave His all for me and I have committed to give my all for Him.  Some days I get it right and others I fall far short of what I should be.  I just know that every day is a new day to choose.  Jesus closed chapter 6 with this verse:

Mat 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

            Tomorrow is not promised to us; it may never come.  Today and right now this moment is what we are given and it is now that we are to serve Him.  Many of us live either in the past remembering the “good old days” or looking into the future of what life could be and miss out on the greatest gift we are given; today here and now this moment.  It is okay to look back into past, but that is not who you are.  It is okay to look and plan for the future (even necessary), but we can’t sacrifice today which we have for tomorrow that may never come (earthly speaking).  Live today for the Lord.  Invest your treasure in heaven now.  Give Him your all, the best that you have today.  First Seek God and let Him take care of everything else.  I guarantee you will not regret doing it, your only regret is that you did not do it yesterday.  God is pursuing you today quit running from Him and run towards Him.  Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.

 

Heavenly Father, thank you for pursuing us and giving us an opportunity to know You personally.  Please make it our hearts desire to seek You first and to grow in our relationship with You.