Seek First – Kingdom Focused Devotionals

The Nike swoosh is one of the most recognizable logos in the sports industry.  The word “nike” comes from a Greek word that means “conqueror.”  In Romans 8:37 Paul declares—“But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.”  The word translated “overwhelmingly conquer” adds “huper” to “nike” to indicate that we are super conquerors. 

            You may be wondering what “all these things” refers to.  I would suggest you take a moment and open your Bible and read Romans 8:31-39.  Paul asks four questions—“Who is against us?  Who can bring an accusation against God’s elect?  Who is the one who condemns us?  Who can separate us from the love of Christ?”  The victorious answer to each and every question is a resounding “no one” and “nothing.”  Paul’s question for the reader, places every circumstance in bold relief.  “If God is for us, who is against us?”  The answer—it doesn’t matter. 

            In the last two verses of the chapter Paul speaks of things present, things to come, powers, height, depth, and every created thing.  None of these, he declares, can separate us from the love of God which we have experienced in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

            Don’t feel much like a super-hero?  Don’t let your feelings imprison you.  Break free and claim the promise and power of God. 

Prayer.  Father, I thank you that nothing and no one can separate me from you.  Help me to live in Your victory.  Amen.

Our temptation to assist God is a demonstration of our lack of understanding of His great strength. 

            Amaziah became king of the two tribes of Judah when he was 25 years of age.  The chronicler provides an interesting and honest assessment of his reign—“He did what was right in the Lord’s sight but not completely” (2 Chron. 25:2 HCSB).  You will see the relevance of this statement in the story which follows. 

            Amaziah wanted to subdue the Edomites.  His resolve was demonstrated as he marshaled 300,000 choice men from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin.  Thinking this number might be insufficient, he hired 100,000 mercenaries from Israel for 7,500 pounds of silver. 

            What he failed to realize was that this reliance on his military might had led him to make an ungodly alliance.  An unnamed prophet warned him not to depend on these men who had abandoned the one true God for idols.  The sin of Amaziah was not simply making an unholy alliance with idolatrous Israel; it was his confidence in military might rather than God.  When headed for battle, his first thought was to assemble an army rather than pray. 

            The Chronicler writes, “God has power to help and to bring down” (2 Chron. 25:8).  Are you ever guilty of making your own plans, marshalling your own resources and ignoring the promises of God?

Prayer.  Father, I don’t want it to be said of me, “he did what was right in God’s sight, but not completely”.  Teach me to trust in You.   Amen

A popular phone company continually asked this question to promote the large network coverage they provided.  Do you sometimes wonder whether God can hear your prayers?  I have great news.  You have unlimited service and global access. 

            Israel and King Hezekiah were reeling from defeat at the hands of the Assyrian army.  The Assyrian king Sennacherib sent his spokesman to deliver a taunting message to the representatives from Israel, warning them not to turn to Egypt for help (2 Kings 18:21).  The men of Hezekiah had been instructed to remain silent during the report of the messenger. 

            The men did, however, relate the message to Hezekiah.  His response was immediate!  “He tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth and entered the house of the Lord” (19:1), repenting of his sins and seeking God’s face.  He then sent messengers to the prophet Isaiah to tell him what the pagan king had said.  Isaiah responded that the king need not fear since the Lord had heard the blasphemous words of the pagan king and was about to act on behalf of His own name. 

            When you feel defeated and think the world is spiraling out of control, remember the Lord has heard everything.  He can be trusted to act for the glory of His own name. 

Prayer.  Thank you that I can pray with the confidence that you hear and respond.  I will trust in You alone today.

The Bible records both the good and the bad and we can learn from both.  The closing chapters of I Samuel deal with the escalating battle between Israel and the Philistines.  The issue had been complicated by Saul’s rebellion which had led to the anointing of David and the departure of the Spirit from Saul.  “Saul answered, ‘I am greatly distressed; for the Philistines are waging war against me, and God has departed from me’” (1 Sam. 28:15).

            Saul became so desperate for a message that he consulted with the medium of Endor for help, asking her to consult with Samuel on his behalf.  Saul’s rationale for consulting with a medium was a tragic one.  He could no longer hear the voice of God.  He sensed that God had departed from him.

            This passage is not about a believer losing his salvation, but it does speak to one forfeiting the anointing for service.  This event in the life of Saul may be the impetus behind David’s impassioned appeal in Psalm 51 that God would wash away his guilt and cleanse his sin.  David cried out—“Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me” (11).

            If you sometimes fear that you have forfeited the presence and power of the Lord, read Psalm 51 and follow the directions.  If you don’t feel His presence move closer to Him. 

Prayer.  I thank you for your steadfastness.  Cleanse me and allow me to dwell in Your presence.   Amen.

Does “life” ever make you tired?  I’m talking about a tired that is much more than physical fatigue.  Life is challenging!

            It took seven years for Israel to complete the task of inhabiting the land God had given them.  The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh had agreed to fight alongside their brothers even thought their land lay on the east side of the Jordan.  We are told that 40,000 men from these tribes went in battle formation in front of the Israelites (Joshua 4:12-13). 

            Once the land was taken, Joshua allowed them to return to their homes and enjoy the rest that God had promised them.  But before they returned to their homes, Joshua reminded them that they must be careful to love and serve the Lord with all their heart and soul (22:5).

            “Rest” obviously refers to the cessation of battle, but it is also associated with the occupation of the land.  They now inhabited the land God had promised them.  They were living in His promises!  Rest is not the cessation of all our labors; it is living daily in the promises of God.

            If you are feeling a little stressed and tired, you need to learn how to live in the promises of God.  Jesus extended the invitation—“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest” (Mt. 11:28). 

Prayer.  I confess that I often grow weary because I depend too much on my own strength.  I come to You for rest today.  Amen.

The recent recession has caused a great deal of worry and concern.  Want a sure formula that will brighten your day?  “…You shall rejoice in all the good which the Lord your God has given you” (Deut. 26:11b).

            After years of waiting and suffering want, it was appropriate that every Hebrew family celebrate with the firstfruits of their crops.  Moses instructed them to take some of the first of the produce that they harvested from the Promised Land and place it in a container.  This then was taken before the priest in acknowledgement that they had surely entered the land of plenty God had promised them. 

            This offering was appropriately called the offering of the firstfruits.  If you have the time and you can read the remainder of the chapter, you will find that Israel was privileged to celebrate God’s goodness with other offerings, including the third year tithe for the foreign residents, the fatherless, and the widows. 

            We should take a lesson from these Old Testament offerings and learn both how and why we should celebrate all the good things God has given us.  First the offerings were brought to the Lord to acknowledge Him as the source of all good gifts.  Second giving the first fruits required a level of self-denial.  The farmer would be tempted to keep those for himself.  Third giving was an act of celebration.  Finally giving provided for those less fortunate. 

            When you find yourselves discouraged, give an offering in celebration of all God’s good gifts. 

Prayer.  Forgive me when I focus on me and forget You.  You are the giver of all I have and I celebrate your many blessings.  Amen.

I never tire of telling my three girls how special they are to me.  Even though they are all married and have children of their own, they love to hear their dad affirm his love for them.  Would you like to hear such a message from God?

            As Israel prepared to enter the Promised Land, God wanted them to know of His special love for them.  “For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth” (Deut. 7:6). 

            First, they were a holy people to the Lord.  “Holy” not only relates to the issue of character, it speaks of service.  Israel had been set apart for God’s service.  Second, they were a “chosen” people.  Israel was to be the instrument God would employ in the redemption of the earth.  Further, God indicated that they were His “treasured” possession.  Israel was chosen and treasured not based on their strength or might but simply because of God’s great love for them. 

            In the New Testament, Peter uses these same terms to speak of those who have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ His Son (1 Pt. 2:9).  Do you know why you were chosen?  You were chosen, “So that you may proclaim the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (9b). 

            Have you thanked God lately for calling you to Himself?  Have you told anyone about the One who chose you and seeks all?

Prayer:  Father, I thank you for choosing me in Christ Jesus.  Give me the opportunity to tell someone about your great love.  Amen.

I was privileged to grow up under the tutelage of a loving father who wanted only good things for me.  Even so, there were times when I chafed at his restrictions which seemed overly restrictive.  He told me that as I grew in maturity I would understood that he desired only my good.

            The phrase “God has commanded” is repeated several times in Deuteronomy 5-6.  Moses wanted the people to understand that the words and commands were the words of God and not man.  Moses was only the mediator of the commandments.  Second, Moses indicated that the law was not intended to restrict their freedom, but would rather bring fullness to their lives. 

            Listen!  “You shall walk in all the way which the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you…” (5:33).  To walk in God’s commands very simply means to obey them.  Notice that blessing accompanies obedience.  Blessing is never automatic; it is the result of our obedience to God’s commands.  Only God can inform man how best to live in relationship with Himself, with others, and with His creation. 

            Moses affirmed that the first and greatest command is to love God with all one’s heart, soul, and strength (6:5).  It is this radical love relationship that creates the joyful desire to obey God’s every command.  He desires only your best.

Prayer:  Teach me more about Yourself so that I will live in the joy and abandon of total obedience.  Amen.

Many of our songs and hymns speak of our desire to “see God.”  No doubt many of them refer to the desire to see Him one day in heaven.  But have you ever pondered what it would be like to see God?

            In Deuteronomy 5 we discover the story of God speaking to Israel from Mount Sinai.  The Lord spoke His commands to Israel in a loud voice to the entire assembly from the fire, cloud, and thick darkness.  The people approached Moses, declaring that the Lord had shown them His glory.  The experience was sufficiently frightening that they asked Moses to serve as a mediator between them and the living God.  “Go near and hear all that the Lord our God says; then speak to us all that the Lord our God speaks to you, and we will hear and do it” (5:27).

            Sinful man knows at the core of his being that he can never stand unaided in the presence of Holy God.  So how can man see God’s glory or hear His voice?  Even today we need a mediator.  John begins his gospel with the declaration—“The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth” (1:14).        

            Only one person could fit this description!  Only Jesus was fully God and fully man.  Only one man could show us God’s glory.  Want to see God?  Meet Jesus!

Prayer:  Thank you for sending your Son that I might know Him and in and through Him, see you.  Amen.

Why is man so inclined to worship the creation rather than the Creator?  In Romans 1, Paul indicates that the world bears witness to the Creator, but the tragedy was that man exchanged God’s glory and worshipped images of things which He created.

            To prepare Israel to enter the Promised Land, God allowed them to hear His voice at Horeb.  Moses explained that God did not allow them to see Him so that they would not be tempted to represent Him in some form and then worship that form.  The religions of the Ancient Near East contained idols in the shape of various creatures.  Israel had been exposed to the worship of pagan deities while in Egypt and now they were headed to Canaan, where Baal and Astarte were worshipped. 

            For their protection Moses instructed Israel—“And beware not to lift up your eyes to heaven and see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the hosts of heaven, and be drawn away and worship them and serve them, those which the Lord your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven” (Deut. 4:19).  Since the heavenly luminaries are created by God, they are subservient to Him.  Further, they are God’s gift to all the peoples of the earth. 

            Why would someone worship any part of creation when they can worship the Creator?  Ever hear of astrology?  When man ignores the one true God, he will always worship a lesser god who is no god at all. 

Prayer:  Father, you alone are worthy of worship.  I acknowledge you as the one true God.  Amen.