Reflections
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matt 6:33
Too often, we drift to seeking “all these things [that] will be given to you as well.” It’s as if after seeking his Kingdom and his righteousness for a while, we expect to see “all the things that should be given to us”. But what we don’t realize, is that the moment we expect to receive these things because of our supposedly devoted and pious lifestyle, we’ve stopped seeking the Kingdom and started seeking the world.
Never stop seeking his Kingdom, never stop seeking his righteousness, for that in itself is the first and foremost reward you receive.
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“Those who flatter their neighbors
are spreading nets for their feet.” Proverbs 29:5
Conviction. In my effort to “love” I fall into the temptation to just be “nice.” I like making people feel good about themselves and knowing that I did that for them. Though godly encouragement is necessary, I more often find myself stroking people’s pride and ego.
Lord give me godly discernment to know when to speak, what to speak, and how to speak it. Let my words be few, but glorious to you.
“Do not be quick with your mouth,
do not be hasty in your heart
to utter anything before God.
God is in heaven
and you are on earth,
so let your words be few.”
- Ecclesiastes 5:2
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But what was the most important thing I learned this past week? With Christ, it’s never bad to go back to square one: Love. My mind will always try to wrap itself around theology, the origin of evil, sin, predestination, the God head, sanctity, holiness, all those things. But if I don’t step back and realize that all this knowledge is only worth knowing if I apply it to love others, then it is worth nothing at all.
“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
Exercising love to the point where it stretches you, that is never a bad place to be, just an easy path to avoid.
