Seek First – Kingdom Focused Devotionals

Are you ready for Christmas?  I am not asking whether you have finished shopping, but I am asking are you making personal preparation so that you can truly celebrate the birthday of the King.  For the next several weeks we will spend some time in the Gospel narratives as we ask God to prepare our heart for Christmas. 

                When we are reading the Bible through, we tend to skim over those sections which contain genealogies.  Matthew’s gospel begins with the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah.  So let’s pause a moment to consider its significance.  Matthew arranges his genealogy into three sections, each containing fourteen names.  The numerical value of the Hebrew letters for David equals fourteen.   Matthew focuses on Jesus’ lineage based on His foster father, Joseph while Luke will provide Mary’s lineage. 

                Genealogies were important to the Jews.  They provided the means for a person to prove their tribal membership and thus establish rights to their inheritance.  If one wanted to claim to be “the Son of David” it was important that proof was available.  This genealogy not only proves the David lineage of Jesus, it establishes His birth as a vital part of history.  God in His great mercy chose to bring redemption to mankind by sending His own Son into the world.  This genealogy also demonstrates the amazing grace of God by including the names of four women (Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba).  Women were not included in Jewish genealogies, particularly those with a background like that of Rahab.  But Christmas is all about grace.  It is the story of God stooping to become man. 

Prayer:  It is beyond my understanding that you would take upon yourself flesh to redeem me from sin.  Thank You.  Amen.

Did you spend time around the table yesterday giving thanks?  Did you find yourself overwhelmed by God’s goodness?  Perhaps you felt that the mere mouthing of the words, “thank you” seemed inadequate to truly express your thanks.  You are wondering, “How can I say thanks?”

                The Bible actually addresses that question and provides an answer.  Paul spent the decade of the 50’s encouraging the churches of Macedonia and Achaia to join together in a love offering to assist the saints in Jerusalem who were suffering from a famine (see Acts 11:27-30).  He discusses this offering in 2 Corinthians 8 and 9. 

                In 2 Corinthians 9:10 Paul reminded them that God provides the seed for sowing, multiplies the seed, and insures the harvest.  This verse underlines a fundamental truth of life—God is the author and source of all that we have and He enjoys providing abundantly for His children.  Take a moment and open your Bible to this text and read verses 6-15.  Did you notice how often the word “thanksgiving” occurred?

                Paul promised that their generous response to the need of the saints in Jerusalem would produce “thanksgiving to God” (11, 12).  When we respond to the needs of others we are saying thanks to God for giving us the seed for sowing and the opportunity to sow in the lives of others.  Let’s end this holiday series with Paul’s declaration—“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Cor. 9:15). 

Prayer:  The indescribable gift of Your Son leaves me breathless.  Thank You.  Amen

We know that “attitude” is a significant component in a person’s ability to succeed.  If you have played sports or worked in the business world, you have heard and seen plenty about attitude.  Businesses spend significant amounts of money to have speakers address the issue of attitude.  Locker rooms are plastered with posters espousing a positive attitude. 

                The apostle Paul instructed believers that prayer must be offered in an “attitude of gratitude.”  “Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving” (Col 4:2).  Prayer and praise are the oxygen that the Christian breathes.  Thus we are not surprised that Paul would exhort us to “devote” ourselves to prayer.  As you read the book of Acts you will discover that the early disciples devoted themselves to prayer (1:14, 2:42).  Prayer is the language of the redeemed and for that reason it is always offered in the attitude of thanksgiving.  The believer is aware that all of life is a gift of grace and thus thanksgiving marks our ongoing attitude. 

                In Romans chapter one Paul gives us a marked contrast with the unbeliever who has seen the things of God and yet did not honor Him as God.  The fact that they did not give thanks was the evidence that they did not honor God as the author of all good gifts.  This lack of gratitude leads to futile speculation and the darkening of one’s heart.  Gratitude is the evidence that one has recognized the grace of God.

                Take time today to give thanks for all God has done for you.  Thank Him first for your salvation and let it flow from there.  Save adequate time at the dinner table to practice the attitude of gratitude. 

Prayer:  Father, You are the author of all life.  I give you thanks for life and for the gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus.  Amen

Psalm 107 is somewhat lengthy but worth reading in its entirety. It contains four word pictures of human predicaments resolved by divine intervention.  This is followed by a final section (33-43) which pictures great reversals of fortune which God causes as He intervenes in the life of men. 

                On five separate occasions (1, 8, 15, 21, and 31) the Psalmist exhorts the reader to give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness.  Further, he ends the psalm with this reminder—“Who is wise?  Let him give heed to these things, and consider the lovingkindness of the Lord” (43).  The first example of God’s lovingkindness was providing for the needs of the people when they wandered in the wilderness.  You may recall that the wilderness wandering was caused by Israel’s stubborn disobedience.  Nonetheless, God satisfied their thirst soul and filled their hungry soul (9).

                As you reflect over the past year, think of the times that you have been rebellious and ignored God’s Word.  Did he rescue you in spite of your disobedience?  Then, give thanks for His lovingkindness.  By the way, the word “lovingkindness” refers to God’s steadfast covenant love.   I am so glad that God’s love is steadfast and that He is faithful and true to His Word.  This Thanksgiving season, I join the Psalmist in exhorting you to “consider the lovingkindness of the Lord.”

Prayer:  Father, I thank You that You are faithful to Your covenant.  You satisfy my soul.  Amen.

Perhaps the best known of all the thanksgiving psalms is Psalm 100.  This psalm is known as the Jubilate from the Latin “O be joyful.”  Here is a verse you should commit to memory.  “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.  Give thanks to Him, bless His name” (3).  In fact, the Psalm contains only five verses and thus you should hide the entire psalm in your heart. 

                It begins with a call for a “joyful shout.”  The “shout” is the fanfare reserved for the king.  Notice that verse one claims the entire earth for the Creator King.  In the first two verses those who know the King are called to four separate activities—shout, serve, come with singing, and know.  When one understands that he/she is serving the king of all the earth, he or she will serve with “gladness.”  There is nothing grudging about our service.  To come before Him with joyful singing indicates the worship that accompanies service.  Worship and service stem from what we know.  “It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture” (3). 

                The simplicity of the invitation to “enter His gates” may obscure the wonder of it.  The sovereign King had invited us into “His” gates and “His” courts.  Can you imagine how you would feel if you were visiting England and given a personal invitation to visit Buckingham Palace?  We have been invited into the court of the King of kings.  Did you notice that when we give thanks to Him, we bless the Name of the one who is faithful to His covenant (5)?

Prayer:  Today, may the gratitude of my heart bless Your name.  Amen.

From the earliest days the Christian church has used Psalm 95 as a call and guide to worship.  It is known as the Venite, from the Latin for “O come”.  Many commentators believe that it was composed for the Feast of Tabernacles, when God’s people re-enacted their time of encampment in the wilderness. 

                The key verse for consideration today is verse 2—“Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.”  Thanksgiving is not only the “way” we come before God, it is the way that best expresses our love and gratitude.  You may be asking, “Gratitude for what?”  The answer is found in the latter half of verse one—“Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation.” 

                Words like “sing” and “shout” repeated in verses one and two suggest that the worshippers entered with unbridled enthusiasm.  When we think about the gift of salvation, it should cause us to experience overwhelming gratitude.  We deserved death and instead we were the recipients of God’s grace.  That grace came at the cost of God’s one and only Son.  If you have received that free gift of eternal life, everyday should be “Thanksgiving.” 

                Take a moment and read the remainder of this Psalm and you will find a description of our great King, that will take your breath away.  Our Creator became our Redeemer.  So, let us come before Him today with unbridled thanksgiving.  If you are a little timid, go out for a walk and “shout joyfully” to the Lord. 

Prayer: Today I come with Thanksgiving.  You are My Creator and Redeemer.  Thank You.  Amen.

“I will praise the name of God with song and magnify Him with thanksgiving” (Ps. 69:30). 

                This psalm reveals the heart of a vulnerable man who cannot ignore the impact of slander, betrayal, and self-accusation.  He speaks of waters that threaten his life and deep mire where there is no foothold (2-3).   He has become so weary of crying that his throat has become parched (3). 

                The tide is turned as the Psalmist begins to focus on the Lord’s lovingkindness (13, 16) a word that is used to describe the covenant love of God.  “But as for me, my prayer is to You, O Lord, at an acceptable time; O God, in the greatness of Your lovingkindness, answer me with Your saving truth” (13).  In the second reference to “lovingkindness” the focus is on the greatness of God’s compassion.  If you take the time to read this Psalm you will find numerous references that will remind you of the agony our Lord bore for us on Calvary (cf. 20-21). 

                The light breaks through as the Psalmist focuses on praise and thanksgiving (30).  Explicit praise and thanksgiving is pleasing to the Lord (31) and healing for the petitioner (32).  The reference to the sacrifice of an ox in verse 31 is to the animal sacrifice of the Old Testament.  God has no need of “horns and hoofs” but desires rather to receive our praise and thanksgiving.  Our gratitude magnifies Him!  Our thanksgiving looks beyond our needs and sees God’s ultimate dominion.  He talks about rebuilding Zion and declares—“And those who love His name will dwell in it.”  Do you love His name?  Tell Him.  Magnify Him with thanksgiving.

Prayer:  You alone deserve glory and praise.  I magnify You with my thanksgiving.  Amen

David has been betrayed by Doeg the Edomite (1 Sam. 22:22), which was hardly a surprise, but the rejection by his own tribe (1 Sam. 23:19ff.) after he had rescued one of their border towns, was disappointing.  In this difficult and disillusioning situation he turns to God for vindication.

                He cries out to the Lord—“Save me, O God, by Your name, and vindicate me by Your power” (Psalm 54:1).  God’s name stands for His character.  Thus David focuses on the truth that God is a helper.  “Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the sustainer of my soul.”  David had brought his enemies to God’s attention, and now he brings God before his own attention.  We sometimes become so focused on our own issues we forget to focus on the character of our God.  David recognizes and declares that God is the one who upholds His life.  David acknowledges that God was at work as He provided human instruments to assist David. 

                How then does David indicate his gratitude to God?  “Willingly I will sacrifice to You; I will give thanks to Your name, O Lord, for it is good.  For He has delivered me from all my trouble” (6, 7a).  The freewill offering David promises to God would give visible expression of his love and gratitude for God’s presence and deliverance.  The offering was presented to God in the presence of others who would share in the feast and hear the story of God’s goodness (Deut. 12:6).  Sounds a little like that first Thanksgiving meal, doesn’t it. 

                When you gather for thanksgiving dinner, leave time to present an offering of thanksgiving to God.  Tell of His great deeds of deliverance during the last year. 

Prayer:  Father, I will declare your deliverance as an offering to You.  You have saved me by your Name.  Amen

Psalm 42 pictures the agony produced by a drought.  Let your mind imagine a landscape with parched land, wilting trees, and dazed and dying creatures.  This is the condition of the Psalmist.  “As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for You, O God” (1).  His soul thirsts for the living God and he desires to come before him in worship (2).  The Psalmist is vulnerable because he has declared his dependence upon the Lord and therefore His detractors cry out “Where is your God?” (3). 

                The Psalmist knew that his need was refreshing from God.  Yet, he recognized that the experience of stirring worship in the community of fellow-believers was a means of encountering holy God.  “These things I remember and I pour out my soul within me.  For I used to go along with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God, with the voice of joy and thanksgiving, a multitude keeping festival” (4). 

                The Psalmist twice confesses that his soul is in despair (5, 6).  He has lost his footing and wave after wave seem to be submerging him (7).  He is oppressed by his enemy and particularly their reviling taunt—“Where is your God?” (10).   It is his memory of worship and the character of God which enables him to express hope and gratitude.  “Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God” (11).

                It is possible that recent events in our nation and in your life have caused you to feel like the Psalmist this holiday season.  Your soul is in despair and wave after wave is submerging you in despair.  What should you do?  Remember!  Rehearse your blessings!  Join others in worship this holiday season!  There is strength in a multitude of worshipers. 

Prayer: I thank you for the community of believers where I can declare my thanksgiving.  Amen

Take a few moments and read Psalm 30.  This Psalm celebrates deliverance from death.  In verse 3 David declared—“You have brought up my soul from Sheol.”  The term is used for pulling a bucket up from a deep well.  In this case, David saw the well as deep as death itself.  Verse 2 suggests that the threat to David’s life was an illness from which God had healed him. 

                His response to God’s merciful healing was to sing praise to the Lord and to “give thanks to His holy name” (4).  His gratitude is based on the character of God.  “For His anger is but for a moment, His favor if for a lifetime; weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning” (5).  God’s anger is always a righteous anger which is poured out on sin.  David gives thanks that God allows His anger to burn for only a moment but gives us His favor for a lifetime.  He states the same truth in a slightly different manner in the declaration—“Weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning.”

                The concept of sorrow being turned into joy is carried even further in the New Testament.  Paul writes: “For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison” (2 Cor. 4:17).  If you glance at the context, you will discover that Paul is talking about the physical decay of the outer man.  The aging process brings with it physical challenges that can often cause us to lose heart. 

                What are we to do when we experience affliction?  Remember is it momentary.  Praise and thank God that His favor lasts a lifetime and beyond.  Take time today to thank God for allowing you to take the “long view.” 

Prayer:  Father, I thank you that joy comes in the morning.  Help me to live with eternity in view.  Amen.