WE SEEK FIRST HIS KINGDOM AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS
_______________________________________________________
“Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” – Jeremiah 17:7-8 –
† Are we living the blessed life?
To live in the blessing of the Lord is the ultimate privilege of the Christian life. We rest in confidence and trust in the One who cherishes us beyond measure. We remain in the center of His will and under His umbrella of protection.
To be blessed is the deepest form of happiness that does not depend upon outward circumstances. It can only be found in Christ. It is an enduring joy and hope in Jesus, our Immanuel, God with us. It is living in His special favor as a privileged child of the kingdom.
“Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.” – Psalm 40:4
The blessed life is the ideal state for the Christian. It is a life of abiding faith in our Lord. He is the Vine and we are the branches. He is the source of living bread and living water. He watches over us, nurtures and protects us.
God’s desire for us is to focus our lives heavenward. We are not to anxiously strive for the things of this world. We are to seek Him first and foremost. He is our highest and greatest priority. We are to revolve our lives around Him.
As we live the blessed life, we become a reflection of our Savior. His divine character flows from our hearts. Our desire is for heavenly treasures rather than earthly ones. Our lives flourish like healthy trees with strong roots, producing abundant fruit for His kingdom.
“Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.” – Matthew 6:33
† How do we live the blessed life?
Those who seek God… His kingdom, His will and His ways… will be blessed. He patiently waits for our faithful response to His revealed will to pour out His blessings. For He rewards those who earnestly seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).
“Blessings crown the head of the righteous.” – Proverbs 10:6
We seek first the kingdom of God as our highest priority. The kingdom of God reigns in the hearts of all believers. Christ is head of the kingdom… and through Him we experience the abundance of the blessed life. No longer does worldliness encompass our thoughts and our lives.
When we are living the blessed life, we are a blessing to others. Our joyous spirit is a witness to the world of our new life in Christ. People want to know what is different about us… offering us the perfect opportunity to share the kingdom message.
“For the kingdom of God is… righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” – Romans 14:17
By faith we accept the righteousness of Christ. Our wills align with His as we seek to obey His Word. We make holiness our primary aim. When we commit our lives to Him, and keep from clinging to our old, sinful ways, God’s blessings will come. The more our lives exhibit the righteousness of Christ, the more we will experience His joy, His peace and His blessings.
“Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.” – Revelation 22:14
† What is God’s promise for the blessed life?
God promises a blessed life to those who seek His kingdom and His righteousness. As we rest in His care and provision, our Heavenly Father, who knows what we need, will be faithful to deliver. We leave all in the hands of our Provider. When we keep from being distracted by the cares of this life, and trust that He will give us more than we could ever need or want, we will be blessed.
The blessed life begins here on earth and continues through all eternity. As we abide in Christ, our robes are washed clean by our merciful Savior, giving us the right to enter into heaven. We live now under His divine favor… and look forward to the perfection of our blessedness in the light of His presence forever.
