Daily Devotion: Matthew 6:33

Matthew 6:33 "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

"All these things shall be added unto you." Jesus was addressing something that many, if not all, of us have to deal with. He is speaking about anxiety. Several times in the previous verses, He spoke the words, "Take no thought...." In other words, do not allow these things to take your thoughts into captivity. How can we avoid that happening? His answer: "Seek ye first the kingdom of God."

How do we go about that? First, we must understand what the kingdom is. Paul tells us in Romans 14:17 that the result of seeking the kingdom is "righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." But we must also understand that the kingdom has a King, and His name is Jesus. So, in order to seek the kingdom, we must seek to please the king by doing the "right thing" in His sight which is righteousness. It is then, and only then, that we find true peace and joy.

King Jesus, what would you have me to be and do today? Help me to turn everything over to your authority that I might not have to deal with anxiety.

Daily Devotion: Enter With Thanksgiving - Psalm 100:1-5

One of the most beautiful Psalms of Thanksgiving is the 100th Psalm. Please turn to it and read verses one through five. With all my heart I believe we are a people and a nation that has truly been blessed by God. Of all those who “give thanks to Him and praise His name” we should be at the top! It is not uncommon to compile wish lists at Christmas, and draw up a list of resolutions for the new year. But there is another list we often overlook - a Thanksgiving Day list of all for which we are thankful. What would your list contain? Most likely, a good part would be material possessions. I’m convinced that we would find that we have much more for which to be thankful than just our material possessions. Like you, I’m sure my list would include the major things - life, health, family, friends, and the nation we live in, despite all its flaws. But even more than that, I’m thankful for my salvation, my Church family, and the mercy that God showers upon us each d...

Daily Devotion: The Peace Of Christ - John 14:27

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. – John 14:27 As I sit and enjoy the Lord's creation and I feel the cool breeze blow across my skin, I am reminded of the peace that we find when we stop to appreciate the works of God. While we cannot necessarily count on another tomorrow in this world, all of God’s children have the assurance of something purer, something brighter, in the world to come. This brings peace when everything seems chaotic and difficult here and now. Jesus Christ was and remains a complex Person. Not only do we have to wrestle with His dual nature, we must face the depth of His teachings. Many of the Lord’s teachings are easy to grasp even if they are hard to apply. (Have you tried loving your enemies lately?) However, some of the Messiah’s sayings make us think very hard indeed. Isaiah 9:6 famously reveals that the virgin born Son of God would be the Prin...

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