Matthew 6:33 (NKJV) But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Having the freedom to choose does not mean we are exempt from the consequences of our choices made apart from God. Even though we know Jesus is the Lord of our lives, we tend to gravitate toward our personal preferences when making decisions. As a result, many Christians see God as someone to turn to only when they get into trouble because of their choices, and they become disappointed and disillusioned when God does not answer or rescue them from their wrong choices.
Jesus has set the example for us on what it means to seek the will of God, or the Kingdom of God, first.
John 4:34 (NKJV) Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.
Jesus’ utmost concern in His ministry was fulfilling the Heavenly Father’s will, in contrast to others’ preoccupation with “filling their stomachs”. Similarly, our stomachs will be filled when we do the will of God, meaning there will be no lack in our lives. Jesus is our perfect example of submitting to God’s will and resisting the flesh’s desires that oppose God’s plan. Jesus understood His mission on earth and God’s will for His life. Everything He did was aligned with God’s plan for Him.
Matthew 26:38-39 (NIV) Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.” He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”
Jesus, 100% man and 100% God, was overwhelmed with sorrow over what He had to endure. The pain was so intense that He shed blood. Nevertheless, Jesus remained submissive to God by praying to the Father about God’s will. He was following God’s plan though it came at a great cost. Jesus entered the Garden of Gethsemane with two conflicting wills but left with only one—the will of the Father.
As Christians, we need to die to ourselves and take up the cross to follow Jesus when we want to do the will of God. This means denying ourselves what we want to pursue and choosing to follow God’s leading in our lives. This is consecration, the posture we take when seeking first the Kingdom of God—a life of submission.
We should seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and align our will with His, rather than seeking provision and security based on our own strength.
Reflection: Do you prioritise God’s Kingdom and His righteousness by putting His interests first in your life? How patient are you while waiting for God’s timing in your life decisions?
Sermon Series：Therapeutic Bird Watching
你首先寻求的是什么？
马太福音 6: 33 你们要先求他的国和他的义，这些东西都要加给你们了。
拥有选择的自由，并不意味着我们可以免于承担那些离开神而作出决定所带来的后果。即使我们知道耶稣是我们生命的主，我们在做决定时仍常常倾向于自己的喜好与偏好。结果，许多基督徒只在因自己的选择陷入困境时才转向神；而当神没有按他们的期待回应或拯救他们脱离错误决定所带来的后果时，他们便感到失望甚至灰心。
然而，耶稣亲自为我们树立了榜样，向我们展示了什么是“先求神的旨意”，也就是先求神的国。
约翰福音 4:34 耶稣说：“我的食物就是遵行差我来者的旨意，做成他的工。
在耶稣的事工中，祂最关心的是成就天父的旨意，而不是像许多人那样只顾“填饱肚腹”。同样，当我们遵行神的旨意时，我们的生命也必得供应，不致缺乏。耶稣是完全顺服神旨意、抵挡肉体私欲的完美榜样。祂清楚自己在地上的使命，也明白神在祂生命中的计划。祂所做的一切，都与父神的心意完全一致。
马太福音 26:38–39 便对他们说：“我心里甚是忧伤，几乎要死。你们在这里等候，和我一同警醒。” 他就稍往前走，俯伏在地，祷告说：“我父啊！倘若可行，求你叫这杯离开我！然而，不要照我的意思，只要照你的意思。”
他就稍往前走，俯伏在地祷告说：“我父啊，倘若可行，求你叫这杯离开我；然而，不要照我的意思，只要照你的意思。”
耶稣既是百分之百的人，也是百分之百的神，祂面对将要承受的苦难时，内心极其忧伤，痛苦甚至深到汗如血滴。然而，耶稣仍然顺服父神的旨意，祂在祷告中将自己的意愿交托给天父。即使代价巨大，祂仍选择走在神的计划之中。
耶稣进入客西马尼园时，里面有两个相冲突的意志；但当祂离开时，只剩下一个——父神的旨意。作为基督徒，当我们愿意遵行神的旨意时，也必须向自己死，背起十字架跟随耶稣。这意味着否定自己的私欲与追求，选择顺从神在我们生命中的带领。这就是分别为圣，是我们“先求神的国”时应有的态度——一种降服的生命姿态。
因此，我们应当先求神的国和神的义，使自己的意志与祂的旨意对齐，而不是依靠自己的力量去追求供应与安全感。
反思：你是否在生活中优先寻求神的国和祂的义，把神的心意放在首位？在面对人生决定时，你在等候神的时间上有多少耐心呢？
讲章系列：观鸟中的安息与医治