Isaiah 9:6-7a NLT
His earthly cousin John first announced the King’s Kingdom. In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!” John 3:1-2 The King Himself also announced His Father’s Kingdom when He began teaching. From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4:17 Then He taught about the Kingdom everywhere He went. It was His priority.
Remember, whatever you prioritize in your life you will pursue. He identified the Kingdom of the Lord God as the first and only priority in man’s life. But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33 To seek is to search out by any means necessary. To seek has but one goal, one purpose, and that is to find! Seek is a verb that requires focus and action and our Lord Jesus promised that if we would seek, we would find. Only a few verses after Matthew 6:33, He reinforces the importance of persistent seeking: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8
I must say that only those who seek God’s Kingdom will find it and with seeking comes understanding of His Kingdom, how it operates and what life is like for His citizenry. There are no exceptions. King Jesus made this statement when responding to His disciples’ question:
And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?”
He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but to them it has not been given. For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.” Matthew 13:10-13 When you understand how the Kingdom of the Lord God operates, you will understand how to live in His Kingdom and you will experience the fullness in your life.
Keep in mind, your first priority is the most important activity in your life—seeking the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Seek with vigor, focus and determination. King Jesus’ parables were often examples of what it feels like to seek the Kingdom: “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”
“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” Matthew 13:44-46
Has there ever been anything that you HAD to have? Something that you have searched and searched for and when you finally found it, you HAD to find a way to purchase it? It was priceless to you. That is how we should seek God’s Kingdom and His righteousness. It is priceless and nothing is as important to us as living in His Kingdom!
To seek also means to study fervently. Students seek knowledge and understanding. In the same way, Kingdom citizens must be students of God’s Kingdom and of its Constitution. That is our source for wisdom and understanding of God’s Kingdom government. Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. Psalm 1:1-3 NLT Did you catch that? They bear fruit in EVERY season, their leaves NEVER wither and they PROSPER in ALL they do! That is life in God's Kingdom, when His citizens know and delight in His laws.
As ambassador Paul said, “Study and do your best to present yourself to God approved, a workman [tested by trial] who has no reason to be ashamed, accurately handling and skillfully teaching the Word of Truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 AMP
Please note that the Greek word for be diligent is spoudazo, which also means to study or labor. Seeking God’s Kingdom means studying it with all due diligence. Seeking also means to explore. We must explore His Kingdom. We must explore its power, laws, government, culture, society, commands, economy…everything. Anything worth seeking is always worth pursuing with diligence and dedication. It may mean turning off the television and internet. It may mean rearranging your schedule in order to have more time to communicate with the Lord. Seeking the Kingdom is a deliberate and proactive mindset. It will not just happen. You will never stumble on it by accident. It is that “pearl of great price”. To seek His Kingdom means to become preoccupied with His Kingdom. I will ask, for your consideration, “What consumes your mind in your daily life?” That is what you are seeking after.
Remember this; evaluate every decision in light of how it will affect your pursuit of God’s Kingdom. Your every thought, word, motivation should be Kingdom first!
And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13
Remember, your faith in the Word of God is your greatest asset in His Kingdom.
All scriptures are NKJV unless noted
W.R. Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org
This article may only be reproduced, in print or on the internet, if the author's name and website address are included at the end of the article as originally placed. Thank you.