Jesus’ words and teachings sometimes left people scratching their heads. At other times, He was much more direct. Then, there was no mistaking what Jesus intended, as when He explained what the defining priority of our lives should be. Here is a brief excerpt from The Gospel of the Kingdom, pages 33 and 34:
“Because of this new era, new Sovereign, new economy, and new agenda, the Kingdom of God also brings with it a new priority. Jesus summarized this new priority in Matthew 6.33, when He commanded His followers to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.
“Believers seek the Kingdom of God as they exercise diligent stewardship of all the Lord’s gifts; wield the power of the Spirit for loving witness to the Lord Jesus; pursue holiness and the fruit and gifts of the Spirit; pray earnestly for the coming of the Kingdom; serve others in love; and sow the true seed of the Kingdom by their lives and words in all the ‘as-you-are-goings’ of their lives.
“Kingdom-seeking is the defining priority for every aspect of life for those who have embraced, not the gospel of near Christianity, but the Gospel of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.”
For reflection or discussion
1. What does it mean to say that seeking the Kingdom of God is the defining priority of our lives?
2. What can we do to keep that priority uppermost in our mind?
Send a copy of today’s Read Moore to a friend. Use the two questions as a follow-up conversation starter. Learn how you can make seeking the Kingdom a more defining place in your life by ordering a copy of The Gospel of the Kingdom from The Ailbe Bookstore.
T. M. Moore
