By Pastor Steve Nickodemus

Seek First His Kingdom

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking this SoundCloud link

“…do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.”
Matthew 6:25b New International Version

Puppies don’t worry.  As this picture illustrates, puppies spend a lot of time playing, pretending to hunt, and rolling about.  But….

People do worry.  Worry involves fear, and people are afraid of a lot of things; things like thieves and hunger and clothing choices and what other people think.  Things like sickness and poverty and losing their job and war.  Things like automobile crashes and drive by shootings and bullies and insults.

Yet Jesus tells you and me, “Do not worry!”  He assures you and me that His heavenly Father will take care of you.  He will give you protection and food and clothing and shelter.  He will give you family and friends and love and life.  He has given you forgiveness and peace and joy and salvation.

But even with Jesus reassuring you that He cares for the birds of the air and the lilies of the field, you still worry.  And so Jesus gives you this command, “… seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”  Seek Jesus, seek His rule, seek getting right with Him… and all these other things will be given to you as well.

From puppies we learn priorities.  First, and above all else, seek to have Jesus rule over you, to be your Lord.  Allow Him to make you right with God.  Trust Him for all things, especially for your salvation and your eternal life and forgiveness of your sins.  Let Jesus care for you.

And then…. relax in His love and peace and care.  And maybe, find some time to just roll on the grass and smell the flowers.  Amen.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church Colorado Springs, Colorado