The instruction of Matthew 6:33 is to seek first, not do or be first. The temptation to make doing and being more important than seeking Jesus Christ has tripped up many Christians with good intentions. (Matthew 7:21-23)
The problem of placing the acts of doing and being like Christ ahead of seeking Him is that it encourages more of an inward perspective than an upward focus on the Savior. With seeking Jesus as our highest priority, we are less likely to be distracted by self-evaluation, one of the enemy's most subtle snares. Remember the parable of the Vine? (John 15:4-6) Branches are useless without a vine (roots).
Anything that causes us to take our eyes off of Jesus Christ for a moment, or even for what seems like a good reason for example, self-evaluation, exposes us to deception and misconception. Remember Peter walking on the water to Jesus during a storm. He did fine until he was distracted by the wind, but glancing away from His Lord for only a moment caused him to "sink". The encouraging part of this passage of Scripture is that when he cried out to Jesus, he was immediately saved. (Matthew 14:28-31)
Today we can focus on seeking Jesus, or something else that competes for our attention. It's our choice.
Onward Christian soldiers!
Bob Benson
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December 2
Christian Perfection
It is a trap to presume that God wants to make us perfect specimens of what He can do—God’s purpose is to make us one with Himself. The emphasis of holiness movements tends to be that God is producing specimens of holiness to put in His museum. If you accept this concept of personal holiness, your life’s determined purpose will not be for God, but for what you call the evidence of God in your life. How can we say, "It could never be God’s will for me to be sick"? If it was God’s will to bruise His own Son ( Isaiah 53:10 ), why shouldn’t He bruise you? What shines forth and reveals God in your life is not your relative consistency to an idea of what a saint should be, but your genuine, living relationship with Jesus Christ, and your unrestrained devotion to Him whether you are well or sick.
Christian perfection is not, and never can be, human perfection. Christian perfection is the perfection of a relationship with God that shows itself to be true even amid the seemingly unimportant aspects of human life. When you obey the call of Jesus Christ, the first thing that hits you is the pointlessness of the things you have to do. The next thought that strikes you is that other people seem to be living perfectly consistent lives. Such lives may leave you with the idea that God is unnecessary—that through your own human effort and devotion you can attain God’s standard for your life. In a fallen world this can never be done. I am called to live in such a perfect relationship with God that my life produces a yearning for God in the lives of others, not admiration for myself. Thoughts about myself hinder my usefulness to God. God’s purpose is not to perfect me to make me a trophy in His showcase; He is getting me to the place where He can use me. Let Him do what He wants.
Amen!
"If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me." Matthew 16:24
