OUR FATHER KNOWS
Matthew 6:31-32: “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.”
“Run after” is the Greek word epizeteo, that means use all your might with sweat and stress. But epizeteo isn’t how our heavenly Father created His kids to live. Our Father knows what we need: food, drink, and clothes. He promises to provide everything we need to live.
See God’s guarantee of provision in the lesson, below. Our Father never intended for us to run after things we need.
He always wants us to seek Him first!
Zeteo is the Greek word for “seek”. Jesus’ native Aramaic was initially translated into the Greek language. Greek words are defined specifically. Zeteo means to hunger, to pant after, or worship. English words can mean more than one specific thing. (Consider the English word sit. Sit can mean take a seat, rest, meet together, or even be placed). Zeteo simply means to want something without really trying.
Jesus is clear in Matthew 6:33: “Seek FIRST the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things [food, drink, and clothes] will be given to you as well.” Caps added to emphasize God’s priority.
The Greek word for “first” is proton. Proton means first in order of importance, the highest place in our affections. Our Father created us in His likeness so that we might form a relationship. He wants first place in our lives. Anything other than God claiming first place in our lives is an idol. An idol is over whatever or whomever we obsess. It could be a star athlete or Hollywood actor, a statue, icon, or symbol. An idol replaces God’s rightful first place in people’s lives.
Sooo: hungering after God’s kingdom more than anything is how our Father wants His kids to live. But what is God’s kingdom? Romans 14:17 says, “The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.” God’s kingdom lives within whomever accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior.
God’s Spirit living inside Christians is His righteousness, peace, and joy. The Holy Spirit meets all of Jesus’ conditions to receive everything we need to live!
Take Home Nugget
Every Believer-in-Christ can proclaim first thing each morning, “I am the righteous of God in Christ!” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Then, we fulfilled seeking the kingdom of God AND His righteous first every day.
And then we never need be concerned with getting what we need to live. What a gift!
Thank You Father for knowing AND providing everything we need to live, including Jesus! Amen.
Adapted from devotion “Seek First God’s Kingdom” from www.JosephPrince.org. April 21, 2017.
J.D. Griffith
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