Our Focus - The One Year Heaven on Earth Devotional

Read: Matthew 6:19-34

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. Matthew 6:33

IN WORD

No one needs to encourage us to focus on our needs or our desires. We do that naturally—and almost constantly. Whether consciously or not, we’re relentless about getting our needs and desires met in people, positions, possessions, and more. So when Jesus says to seek first God’s Kingdom—to focus on that above all else—He’s making a major statement. This is a radical shift in our attention. He wants to turn us outward rather than inward. He wants us to be preoccupied with something much bigger than ourselves.

That means when we do look inward, our number one question should be not about whether we are getting our needs met but whether the Kingdom is being formed in us. When we look at our households, families, friends, and other spheres of influence, we should see ourselves as catalysts for the Kingdom. Are we instigators of the Kingdom culture? Carriers of Kingdom attitudes? Provokers of Kingdom ideas? Vessels of Kingdom solutions? Speakers of Kingdom words?

This doesn’t mean we will always be spouting off religious verbiage and annoying those around us. It does mean, however, that we will be influencers of the environment around us simply because we carry the Kingdom nature within us. We are inhabited by the King, after all, if we have believed in Him and therefore been united with Him. Living out that union is a Kingdom expression that cannot be quenched.

IN DEED

If we seek our fulfillment in people, positions, and possessions, we get neither fulfillment nor the Kingdom. But if we seek the Kingdom, we get both. So we can let go of the things we cling to and the desires we desperately want to satisfy, and embrace the Kingdom of God. We are assured that if we do that, we will not be needy, stressed, and disappointed. For a world full of needy, stressed, and disappointed people, that’s extremely good news.

ADDITIONAL READING: Matthew 11:28-30

Desire only God, and your heart will be satisfied.

AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO