Seek First – Kingdom Focused Devotionals

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.

Have you ever allowed present circumstances to rob you of celebrating God’s blessings?  Sometimes we simply need for someone or something to remind us of all God has done. 

            Israel failed to enter the Promised Land because of their unbelief and resulting disobedience (Num. 14).  An entire generation died in the wilderness and the next generation had spent 38 years wandering aimlessly. 

            A new generation is now prepared to enter the land.  Before Moses passed the responsibility of leadership to Joshua, he reminded the Israelites of God’s rich blessings that had been poured out on them as they had traveled from Kadesh to the plains of Moab.  The overarching message is simple but profound—“The Lord your God has blessed you in all that you have done” (Deut. 2:7).  He reminded them that for the entire time of the wandering, they had not lacked a thing. 

            What is God’s blessing?  It is His presence, provision, and protection.  Later in chapter 8 Moses lists many of the blessings which include the supernatural provision of manna.  Moses tells them that the Lord had given them the manna to teach them that man did not live by bread alone “but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord” (8:3). 

            Have you stopped lately to celebrate God’s presence?  Are you aware that even your daily bread is a gift from His hand?  Have you sensed His protection?  Why not stop and worship Him for all His blessings?

Prayer:  Father, I worship you as Mighty God.  I recognize that you alone are my sufficiency.  Amen