Seek First – Kingdom Focused Devotionals

We live in a culture inundated by sexual images and exploitation.  So-called “family programming” is no longer safe for children to watch.  Sex is used to sell virtually every product.  It is the punch line to most humor in our world today. 

                How does a Christian live in a culture so permeated by sexual promiscuity?  Paul addressed this matter in 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8.  He begins with a simple statement of fact—“For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality” (3).  Paul then compared the Christian with the non-Christian who live by lustful passion.  Persons who do not have the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit have no spiritual resources to keep lustful passions in check and thus often act out of selfish desire (4-5). 

                Paul then affirmed—“God has not called us for the purpose of impurity but in sanctification” (4:7).  The emphasis on God’s calling underlines God’s power available to the believer.  Just as impurity once characterized our existence, now purity characterizes the behavior of the believer who is being transformed daily into Christ’s image.  You are empowered by the Holy Spirit to live up to God’s standards (8).  Celebrate His presence and obey His word.

Prayer: Father, thank you for sending Your Holy Spirit to produce Your character in me.  Amen

Nothing is quite as moving as a son or daughter calling out tenderly to their father.  Nothing refreshes my soul more than hearing my children address me as “dad.” 

                In the Galatians letter, Paul wrote of the privilege of “sonship” made possible through the work of redemption.  “Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’” (Gal. 4:6). 

Paul speaks of redemption here in terms of adoption.  There is no contradiction between the image of new birth and adoption.  Adoption is intended to emphasize God’s personal choice to make each believer His child.  Isn’t it wonderful to know that our sonship is the basis for receiving the Spirit, and that the gift of the Spirit is the means through which we become conscious of our personal relationship with the Father?  In other words, the Spirit grants us new life and then assures us of the reality of that life.

                The cry “Abba! Father!” is the joyous refrain of the redeemed.  It hearkens back to the Lord’s Prayer, where Jesus taught His followers to address the omnipotent God as “our Father.”  Have you experienced the personal redemption that will allow you to call God, “Father?”  If so, have you talked with Him lately?

Prayer:  Father, I am overwhelmed at the privilege to be Your son/daughter.  I joyfully come into your presence with thanksgiving.  Amen

Do you ever have the tendency to rebel against authority?  Something about that “don’t walk on the grass” sign that makes you want to take a stroll there!  Yet we know that life would be chaotic if there wasn’t structure and persons in authority.  Paul states—“God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers…” (1 Cor. 12:28).

                Some of the members in Corinth, who were proud of their visible gifts, paraded them in the assembly with little concern for the edification of the body.  They saw their signs of their advanced spirituality and not as the evidence of God’s grace enabling them to edify others in the congregation.  They had little regard for Paul and other apostles (4:6-13).

                After asserting that God has composed the body as He desired, Paul concludes chapter 12 by listing gifted leaders that God has appointed for the church.  It is not insignificant that he lists apostles, prophets, and teachers first with a numerical reference.  He wanted everyone to understand that leaders are gifted by God and placed in the church by Him for the good of the body.  In Ephesians 4:11-12 Paul explains that the gifted leaders equip gifted members for service in the body. 

                Isn’t it wonderful that God has composed the body for effective ministry?  

Prayer:  Thank you for the leaders you have given to your church for the equipping of the saints.  Help me to encourage them as they minister for you.  Amen

Do you ever feel like your life has little meaning?  I have a great Kingdom Promise for you.  “God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired” (1 Cor. 12:18).  You were created by God, redeemed by His grace, gifted by His Spirit, and placed in His body by His own design?

                As you read the Corinthian letter, it becomes clear that some members of the Corinthian  community were proud to display their spiritual gifts and sought every opportunity to do so.  Their arrogant display of a few spectacular gifts had led others to conclude that they were not gifted and thus of little value to the church.  Sound familiar?

                Paul refuted both the arrogance of some and the under-evaluation of others by insisting that all true believers are recipients of the Spirit and thus all are gifted for service to the King.  Paul used the analogy of the human body to illustrate the necessity of different gifts.  The bottom line is that each member has a unique function because it has been placed into the body by the design and desire of the Creator.  In case you think this doesn’t apply to you, notice the statement, “each one of them.”  If you still think you are an insignificant part of the body you should read all of chapter 12.  Paul argues that those members who “seem to be weaker” are necessary. 

                You are special to God!  He designed you with His church in mind so that you could join other gifted members to advance His kingdom by His power and for His glory.

Prayer:  Thank you for designing me for your body.  Help me to use my gifts for your kingdom.  Amen

(If you are interested in knowing more about spiritual gifts, look for You Are Gifted. )

The most significant event in all human history is the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  While we readily affirm this truth, we sometimes forget that biblical events occurred in the context of world history, and thus impact every area of our lives.

                In I Corinthians 6:4 Paul declares: “God has not only raised the Lord, but will also raise us up through His power. “  It is important that we interpret verses in their immediate context.  If you read this chapter you may be surprised to find that Paul is dealing with the matter of behavior and Christian liberty.   It appears from verse 12 that some in Corinth are taking a libertine view of life, suggesting that everything is lawful for them.  Paul brings corrective by suggesting that not everything is profitable and thus we cannot be mastered by anything.

                The issue here is meat offered to idols.  Some in Corinth suggested that since idols have no meaning, they are free to eat the meat which had been offered to idols.  He also speaks about sexual immorality in this same context.  Apparently some in Corinth saw no conflict between their behavior and their Christian commitment. 

                You may be wondering what an affirmation about the resurrection has to do with our behavior and precisely how we use our bodies.  The answer is “everything.”  Notice that Paul affirms that God has raised Jesus and will raise us up.  Jesus’ resurrection and our resulting redemption have profound implications for the physical as well as the spiritual.  Does your lifestyle reflect that you have been raised up with Christ?

Prayer:  Father, I glory in the resurrection.  May my daily life reflect the truth that I am raised up with you to walk in newness of life.  Amen

Have you ever been given a gift that was simply overwhelming?  I must admit that today’s promise is one of my favorites and it overwhelms me every time I think about it.  “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him” (I Cor. 2:9 NIV). 

            Paul tells his readers that his message contained wisdom for the mature.  It was wisdom that the rulers of the age had rejected (2:6).  God’s wisdom is the mystery of salvation made possible through a crucified Messiah.  The irony is that when the rulers of the age rejected God’s wisdom by crucifying Christ, they unwittingly carried out God’ plan—“predestined before the ages to our glory” (8-9).  Why were the rulers blind to this wisdom?  It was only available from God and revealed by the Spirit (10). 

            Paul fortifies his teaching by quoting an amalgamation of Old Testament texts, loosely based on Isaiah 64:4 and 65:16.  First he concludes that man, unaided by the Spirit, cannot conceive the bounteous blessing God has prepared for them.  Second, they are ignorant of the redemption available in Christ which releases these blessing in the lives of those who love God.  But believers know them because they are revealed by the Spirit (10-12). 

            Have you asked God to show you His blessings?  Have you spent time in prayer and Bible study so you can know those blessings? 

Prayer:  Father, I confess that I spend too little time with You and thus I know too little of what you have made available to me in Christ.  Amen

Have you ever watched a child choose a toy or a piece of candy?  Most often they will select either the largest piece of candy or the shiniest toy, replete with bells and whistles.  As a mature adult you may try to advise your children to choose based on quality, but the world’s standards say choose the largest and shiniest. 

            Do you sometimes feel that you are not very “shiny” when it comes to what you have to offer God?  Listen to this—“God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong” (1 Cor. 1:27).  Some of the Corinthians arrogantly boasted about their gifts and wisdom.  Paul corrected their arrogance by pointing to the message he preached and that was “Christ crucified.” 

            Second, he suggested that they take an internal audit of their own congregation.  From a human perspective they came up short when measured by the world’s standards of power, nobility, wisdom, and influence.  God has turned the world’s standards upside down.  He has chosen the people that world might view as weak or foolish so that He alone will receive the glory. 

            Don’t miss the point of this kingdom promise—“God has chosen you!”  If you are like me, this point is too wonderful to comprehend.  But here it is—God has chosen and gifted us so that we might serve Him effectively. 

Prayer:  I confess that sometimes I underestimate my capability.  Help me to see myself as you see me as chosen in Christ.  Amen

Do you ever find yourself passing judgment on a fellow Christian?  We all do.  We judge people’s motives and actions.  Some in Rome were apparently judging others concerning their diet.  Paul writes: “The one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him” (14:3). 

            The issue in Rome may have been related to the eating of idol meat.  We know this troubled the church in Corinth (see 1 Cor. 8).  It is therefore possible that believers in Rome may have become vegetarians to avoid any possibility of eating meat offered to idols. 

            Whatever the reason for the difference of opinion concerning what a Christian should eat, Paul’s counsel was that they must not regard a brother with concept.  We have a tendency to ridicule a lifestyle that is more or less restrictive than our own.  Such an attitude reflects our arrogance in assuming that our opinion is the correct one.  It takes humility to live in community. 

            The key phrase in this text that keep us from looking down on other Christians is the reminded that “God has accepted him.”  If God has accepted our brother or sister in Christ, what right do we have to judge another’s behavior?  By the way, aren’t you glad that God has accepted you and make you stand in victory (4). 

Prayer:  Thank you for accepting me in Christ.  Forgive me when I stand in judgment over another.  Amen.

As a child, were you ever the last one selected when your class was choosing up sides?  Is so, you know what it feels like to be left out.  Many Christians fail to serve God through their church because they believe they have been left out when it comes to being gifted for service.  Do you sometimes feel this way?

            Paul writes to the Romans, “Think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you” (12:3 NIV).  Paul has just called believers to present their bodies to God as a living and holy sacrifice.  Further, he tells them that such an action is their “spiritual” service and has already been deemed “acceptable.”  Are you thrilled to know that you have something to offer to God which has been declared “acceptable?” 

            In order to make such an offering, we must be transformed by the renewing of our mind (12:2).  The renewing of the mind means that we choose to view ourselves from God’s vantage point rather than that of the world.  This transformation will allow us to know and do the will of God. 

            The call to sound judgment is based on the truth that all believers are gifted and must use their gifts for the good of the body.  You are gifted by God and have a gift that He desires.  Find your place of service today. 

Prayer:  Thank you for gifting me.  Help me to use my gift(s) in service to you.  Amen

(For further info on how to discover and develop your gift see Ken Hemphill, You Are Gifted, Broadman and Holman).

We sometimes use the word “savior” with glib familiarity.  We may refer to someone who has bailed us out of an embarrassing situation as having “saved our life.”  Paul, in Acts 13:23, was not talking about a hero who rescues us in this life, but one who has the power to forgive sin and make us right with God. 

            Paul was on his first missionary journey and speaking to “men of Israel and you who fear God” (Acts 13:16).  Those “who fear God” is a reference to Gentiles who worshipped the God of Israel but had not become converts to Judaism.  Paul begins with a brief survey of Israel’s history.  If you read the entire thirteenth chapter, you will notice that the pace of the retelling of Israel’s history dramatically slows with the mention of David. 

            David is described as a man after God’s heart.  But Paul’s real interest was the promise made to David.  In 2 Samuel 2:12-16 God promises that the one whose kingdom will last forever will come from David’s lineage.  Paul declared that this promise has been fulfilled.  “From the descendants of this man, according to promise, God has brought forth a Savior, Jesus” (13:23). 

            Paul survey the story of Jesus and then declared—“Through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you” (13:38).  No one can forgive sins but an eternal Savior. 

Prayer:  Thank You for sending Jesus to forgive our sin and make us right with You.  Amen.