This weekend at New Song we’re beginning a multi-week series called, “It’s in our DNA.”
I visited a couple of churches with great music and anointed teaching during last summer’s writing break. I drove away from both churches thinking, “I liked what I experienced, but would I choose to be part of this church? What do they stand for? Where are they going? What makes them distinct? And how could they communicate their distinctions?” As a result, I’ve worked with our Leadership Board and staff developed a statement of New Song’s distinctives. We call this statement, “Our DNA.”
The first strand of our DNA is We are a Jesus-First Church. We give up things we love for the One we love even more.
In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:31-33).
Jesus isn’t just asking us to refrain from pursuing temporary things like food and drink and clothing. He’s asking us to replace those pursuits with God-directed purpose.
Seeking first the kingdom of God means participating with Jesus in advancing his cause, locally and globally. Jesus came to build his church (Matthew 16:18), to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10), and to proclaim freedom for the prisoners, sight for the blind and release for the oppressed (Luke 4:18). His Matthew 6:33 promise is, “If you will pursue my agenda first, I will take care of all your needs.”
There are two halves to the Matthew 6:33 promise:
(1) If you seek first God’s kingdom...
(2) he will provide all the “things” you need, (like food and drink and clothing).
Jesus is asking you to seek first his kingdom today. The question is “How?” Pray, asking, “Lord, how do you want me to advance your kingdom today?” Trust what he tells you, and see if he doesn’t fulfill the “things” half of the promise too.
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Posted by: jesus | October 04, 2012 at 05:09 AM