Seek First – Kingdom Focused Devotionals

When we refer to a person as a “finisher” we are complimenting them for completing the task.  Athletes that finish well are in high demand.  The writer of Hebrews refers to Jesus as the author and finisher of faith (Heb. 12:2). 

            The author of Hebrews begins that verse with the admonition—“Let us run with endurance the race set before us.”  Have you ever thought of life as a race to be run, an enduring struggle?  If you have lived long enough and encountered a sufficient number of hurdles, you can identify with this illustration. 

            So how do we run the race successful and finish well.  The answer is rather simple—we fix our eyes on Jesus who has finished the race with perfection.  As the “author,” He is the source or pioneer of the successful race.  As the “finisher” He is the lone example of one who completed the race successfully.  Thus He is our example for life, start to finish.  What motivated Him to run the race of life with such intensity and victory?  He did so for the joy that lay before Him. 

            When you find yourself loosing your way in the race we call life, focus on Jesus and trust in His promises.  When we focus on eternal values, the challenges of this life seem relatively insignificant.  

Prayer:  Forgive me when I focus on circumstances and challenges rather than on You.  Let me today look unto Jesus.  Amen

            If you have attended a church service you have no doubt heard someone speak or even shout “amen.”  In many churches it is used like applause when someone sings a solo or the pastor makes a point with which we agree.  What does it mean to call Jesus the Amen?

            John wrote: “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The Amen, the faithful and true Witness” (Rev. 3:14).  This verse is in a section of Revelation where the seven churches are being addressed.  The area of Laodicea was known for its banking and manufacture of clothing from local black wool. 

            The church in Laodicea received the severest condemnation of the seven mentioned in Revelation.  They are indicted for being “lukewarm” (v. 16), a spiritual condition which may have been the result of their great material wealth.  In contrast with the unfaithful people of Laodicea, Jesus is declared to be the “Amen, the faithful and true witness.”  Amen is a Hebrew word whose root meaning contains the idea of strength, firmness and integrity.  God can be trusted to keep His covenant with His people.

            Are you confident that every promise that God has made is faithful and true?  Will you rely upon Him today? 

Prayer:  Lord, you are the Amen.  I will trust and rely upon all of your promises.  Amen.

We are fascinated with power, whether it is position, physical strength, megawatts, money, or horsepower.  But all the mighty persons in our pantheon of heroes have weaknesses.  Only Christ is the Almighty.  “Great and awe-inspiring are Your works, Lord God, the Almighty” (Rev. 15:3).

            The word translated “Almighty” is a composite of two Greek words translated “all” and “ruler.”  The Almighty is one without possibility of equal.  When those who have “won the victory from the beast” hail Jesus as “Lord God, the Almighty,” they are declaring that His power is unlimited.  The power of the beast and any false wonders he might display cannot compare with the “great and awe-inspiring works” of our King.

            In the darkest hours of human history, when it seems the adversary has the upper hand, the true conquerors will sing a song of praise to the Almighty.  Have you sung a song of praise today?  You can sing it whatever your circumstances because your King is the Lord God, the Almighty and He has already won.  

Prayer: Forgive me when I allow my circumstances to cloud my vision of You.  By faith, I sing my song of praise to you the Almighty One.  Amen.

In recent years we have witnessed several trials involving well-known people.  As we follow the story we are often provided with a great deal of detail concerning the defense lawyer in the case.  I know that if I were ever accused of a crime, I would want the best lawyer to be my advocate. 

            Here’s the issue.  We know that we have all sinned (Rom. 3:23) and that the wages of sin is death (Rom. 6:23).  Now we are talking about something far worse than capital punishment, we are talking about eternal separation from God.  I have some really good news for you—“If anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ the righteous one” (I John 2:1).

            Having a top-rate advocate might make one cavalier about sin.  It might lead us to think we can get away with anything.  John addresses this issue without delay—“My little children, I am writing you these things so that you may not sin” (2:1). 

            Our advocate is the glorified Christ who pleads our case before the Father.  The entire picture points to the high priestly ministry of Jesus who ensures that our sins do not hinder our intimate fellowship with the Father. 

Prayer:  Thank you Father that you love me and plead my case.  Help me to avoid all sin today out of gratitude for Your sacrifice.  Amen

Abraham launched out on a journey of faith pursuing the promise that God would make him a mighty nation.  The biggest barrier to the fulfillment of this promise was the barrenness of his wife Sarah (Genesis 11:30).  It is difficult to become a mighty nation without children. 

            In Genesis 17 God promises Abraham that Sarai’s name will be changed to Sarah and she will be a mother of nations.  Abraham’s response?  He fell on his face and laughed.  But this promise was accompanied by God’s revelation of Himself as El-Shaddai, which means “God Almighty” (17:1).  This name underlines God’s sufficiency, and thus was intended to reassure Abraham. 

            As an additional sign of His faithfulness, God gave Abram a new name.  Abram means “exalted father,” a tough name to carry around when you have no children.  His new name means “a father of multitudes.”  God wanted Abraham to know that no promise is too big for Him.  By the way, the context suggests that Abraham’s laugh was one of unbelief since he suggests that Ishmael, a son born from Hagar would be a more reasonable solution to God’s dilemma.

            Aren’t you glad that God is patient when His children struggle to believe His promises?  Are you willing to accept God’s Word even when it collides with your doubt?  

Prayer: Father, help my unbelief.  I confess that you are God Almighty.  Amen

Do you like salty things like popcorn, peanuts, and chips?  I find that it’s true, “you can’t eat just one.”  And while you are eating, you will of necessity drink the entire time.  Salt not only makes the snacks flavorful but they make you thirsty. 

            Jesus told His first century hearers that those who followed Him would be the salt of the earth (Matt. 5:13).  As Christians, we need to recognize that we are designed to create thirst in others.  Just as popcorn begs to be consumed with a cold soft drink, our lives should make others thirsty for Christ. 

            In that same text, Jesus warns about salt which has become tasteless.  It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled on by men.  It was common in Palestine to see mounds of worthless salt scattered in piles, much the same way crushed seashells line the walkway at the beach.  Salt-less salt is an absurd idea; but no more so than Christianity lived in such a manner that it does not attract others.  You were not designed to blend in blandly with society but to add a noticeable difference; to deliver a punch and purity that causes others to thirst for righteousness.  Salty life is the key to the Splash evangelism strategy (see Splashinfo.com).

Prayer:  Lord forgive me when my life fails to be flavorful, drawing men to you.  Let my life demonstrate the Gospel today.  Amen

I have three daughters who are now grown with children of their own.  I love to tell my girls how proud I am of them and how much I love them and they love to hear it.  It shouldn’t surprise us that on three occasions God the Father spoke from heaven affirming His Son.  Twice He employed the simple affirmation—“This is My beloved Son.” 

            On the first occasion, Jesus had not yet begun His earthly ministry.  “There came a voice from heaven, ‘This is My beloved Son.  I take delight in Him’” (Matt. 3:17).  Jesus had requested baptism from John the Baptist and His Father’s affirmation must have steeled the Son in His resolve to obey and glorify the Father. 

            In Matthew 17, on the Mount of Transfiguration, we hear the Father once again express His delight in His Son.  This time the Father gave a command—“Listen to Him!”  Disciples of every age must obey this imperative for the Son speaks the words of God. 

            The final word of affirmation from the Father is slightly different in form, but the same in content.  After predicting His own crucifixion, the Son cries out to the Father, asking Him to glorify His own name.  The Father responds—“I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again!” (Jn. 12:28).  The Son had lived so as to reveal the Father’s name and now His death will do the same. 

            Now we are sons of the Son and we must live to hear our Father say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” 

Prayer:  Thank you for allowing me to be your Son through faith in Jesus Christ.  Help me to live so as to glorify Your name.  Amen

As a child in Sunday school, I loved the story of the feeding of the 5,000.  I think it impressed me that Jesus would give a young lad the opportunity of participating in His work. 

            This story provides the setting for the first of seven dramatic “I Am” statements of Jesus—“I am the bread of life,” Jesus told them.  “No one who comes to Me will ever be hungry” (John 6:35). 

            After feeding the 5,000 Jesus left for Capernaum.  When the people discover that Jesus has left, they go looking for Him.  When they find Him in Capernaum, He confronts them with the stark reality that they were seeking Him only because He provided a free meal.  The tragedy of the moment is that they are seeking physical food when the one standing before them offers bread that will satisfy man’s spiritual hunger. 

            This great “I Am” declaration has clear overtones of divinity and links our life in the closest fashion with Christ.  He is the bread who gives and sustains spiritual life.  When we feat on Him, we are assured of being constantly satisfied. 

            Mom had a simple formula for telling when I was actually sick—my appetite.  In much the same way, spiritual hunger for Christ is a pretty good sign of one’s spiritual health.  Do you hunger for the Bread of Life? 

Prayer:  Father forgive me when I lose my appetite for Your Son and Your Word.  Heal me and give me renewed hunger today.  Amen

The book of Revelation declares that Christ is the Alpha and the Omega.  Alpha is the first letter in the Greek alphabet and Omega is the last.  Thus this statement means that Christ is the beginning and the end and everyone in between. 

            When we speak of Jesus being “first” we are speaking of His pre-existence.  But there is even more to this statement than meets the eye.  John, in his gospel (ch. 8 ) records a conversation between Jesus and Jewish leaders.  They are talking about their lineage and the Jews proudly refer to the father Abraham.  Jesus tells them that their father had been overjoyed to know he would witness Jesus’ appearance.  They are thoroughly confused, indicating that Jesus was not even 50 years old.  Jesus responded, “I assure you; ‘Before Abraham was, I am” (58).  His listeners are incensed and take up rocks to stone Him for blasphemy. 

            It was the use of “I am” that was most surprising for it is the Old Testament name Yahweh, only applied to the one true God.  There it is–Jesus is fully God, eternal in nature.  He is the only means of reconciliation between God and man.  Is He first in your life? 

Prayer:  Thank You Father that You Sent the eternal one to earth so that I might have eternal life.

Do you find yourself frequently defeated by a familiar spiritual enemy?  If so you may identify with the story found in Genesis 20.  Abraham lies about his wife, claiming that she is his sister (2). 

            Abraham justifies his action by arguing; “I thought, ‘There is absolutely no fear of God in this place.  They will kill me because of my wife’” (20:11).  Once again we are reminded of God’s grace in the everyday affairs of men.  “But God came to Abimelech in a dream” (20:3).  Abimelech was the king of Gerar and when God made known to him the deceit of Abraham, he returned Sarah, Abraham’s wife. 

            Stories like this aren’t glamorous and they do not give us the best impression of Abraham, a man who will grow into a giant of the faith.  But they are honest and they do encourage us when we fall short of God’s standard.  This story assures us that God is our ultimate protection.  How arrogant of Abraham to think that his half-truth about Sarah would provide greater protection than the sovereign God of the universe.  Today, if you are tempted to rely on your own ingenuity, remember God’s power is greater than your circumstances.  

Prayer: Thank you Father that you give us another chance.  Teach me to rely on You.  Amen.