“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Matthew 6:33
An attitude of seeking His Kingdom and His righteous can become a frame through which to view the world if we let it. This verse is found in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, one of the most quoted consolidations of the teaching of Jesus. Throughout the Sermon of the Mount, Jesus challenged His listeners, and now us as readers of the word, to explore His kingdom as upside down from what the world values and protects.
As I spent time with this verse, I was initially saddened that I still see us so far from the upside down kingdom of Jesus. However, I realize the power of what we choose to seek and focus on impacts our view. We can choose the negative or we can choose the positive. So, I turned my perspective to look for where God is moving. One of my favorite verse is Isaiah 43:18-19:
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?”
Isaiah 43:18-19
God is always working, but we do not always see it. Often, I think we do not see it because we are not looking for it. We suppress our curiosity and do not perceive the ways God is working to bring His upside down kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.
I am far from an optimist. In fact, I honestly get so annoyed by some people’s optimism, but I recognize we must choose to look for where God is working and join Him there.
Exhaustion and frustration come from working without the Holy Spirit.
Exhaustion and frustration come when we seek our own kingdoms rather than His kingdom.
So, I choose to seek first signs of God’s hand, signs of God’s heart, signs of God’s kingdom, and for wise ways to participate in those things.
Don’t get sidetracked by what other people are seeking.
Look for the signs of the Kingdom.
Focus on the signs of the kingdom.
Build relationships with others who are seeking the upside down kingdom and allow the Holy Spirit to guide your steps.
KATHY PIERBURG 