Today our household (imperfectly) began by seeking God first. I woke the boys up, and we prayed together, thanking God for the day, but not before I pointed out clothes all over the floor (already a bit of a failure on my part). We all got ready for the day, and began our Bible study (it was about hungering and thirsting for righteousness, but we got off track a bit). And, though our early morning chaos contained spills, fights, and arguments, we kept trying to make everything about honoring God with and in everything we do. We’re not perfect at it. Let me rephrase that, we’re a hot mess. And yet, even being as messy as we are, we’re doing everything we can to bring our most to Christ in everything we do.
Loved ones, Jesus tells us to seek first God’s Kingdom, and His righteousness, then we will have what we need. It doesn’t mean we need to be perfect, or even pretend to be perfect. This seeking first begins with our inabilities and brokenness! We need to seek God in everything we do, doing everything as if it is for Him, to please Him, and to honor Him. It’s not about BEING perfect, but striving for Christ in HIS perfection. HE does the work, we work out our faith among ourselves with fear and trembling, in every part of our lives. Jesus died, was buried and rose again because we were imperfect: He died for our sins, and conquered the death that we deserve by rising again. We can honor Him and His sacrifice by living every day, in every way and everything, for Him and to honor Him, and for His Glory. Even if it’s as messy as my house and life is at the moment.
Proverbs 3:1-12
My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you.
Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.
Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.
My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.
Colossians 3:1-17
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
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