S46P12 – A Father’s heart: pleased to include us
Luke 12:29-32
And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
It was to be a time of worship and fellowship with God. They got together and sang his praises. They stood in silence and waited for a word from him. One of them, however, simply could not focus on the Father. First, her mind went to her hunger. Next, her mind went to her finances. Then, her mind went to the loneliness that would await her upon her return home. She wanted desperately to focus on God and get lost in his presence, but she continued to be distracted by her needs. She had to make a conscious decision in that moment. She had the option to continue to focus on her worries and let them interrupt her fellowship with the Father, or she could focus on him and trust that He would take care of the things that plagued her mind.
Today’s scripture is about priority. Our Father asks us to do something before all other things. He wants us to seek his kingdom first before getting distracted by the things that could scare us in this world and make us worry. We cannot misunderstand this verse to say that we should not take care of our needs, such as our financial responsibilities or caring for ourselves. What God is saying is that we cannot put these physical needs above our spiritual needs. First and foremost, we need God’s kingdom and all that comes with it. Part of that is the Father meeting our physical needs. It pleases him to include us in his kingdom, and it brings him joy to see us seeking that first. By extension, it brings him joy to intervene and quell those worries of ours when we trust him to do so. If we take our eyes off the waves and place them on God, He will calm the treacherous sea that we cannot control.
I have been in that place where the troubles of this world seem to scream louder than anything else. It is sometimes difficult to quiet that noise and change focus. Our physical needs are very real, and sometimes those needs are actually felt as pain. God recognizes those needs, and He already has a plan in place to meet them. While He is not asking us to ignore responsibility, He certainly is asking us not to let fear interfere with our relationship with him. Life may be difficult, but we still should have our eyes on God’s kingdom first. If we do that, we will see how He takes care of the rest. Father, thank You that You are pleased to include us in your kingdom, and help us not be distracted from seeking it first.