Introduction

Beloved, as we gather here today, let's not forget the words of the late Ezra Taft Benson who once said, "When we put God first, all other things fall into their proper place or drop out of our lives. Our love of the Lord will govern the claims for our affection, the demands on our time, the interests we pursue, and the order of our priorities." This profound wisdom is a reminder that our ultimate pursuit should be God Himself. It is a call to seek the Giver more than gifts; the Healer more than healing; the Redeemer more than redemption.

Today, we are going to focus our hearts and minds on a scripture passage that echoes this sentiment, a passage that calls us to a higher plane of living, a passage that challenges us to put God first in everything.

Let us turn to the Book of Matthew, chapter 6, verse 33. It reads,

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

This verse, dear friends, is not a suggestion. It is a command. It is not a recommendation. It is a requirement. It is not a mere idea. It is an imperative. It is Jesus Christ Himself instructing us to prioritize the presence of God, to pursue the preeminence of God, and to practice the principles of God.

Now, let us bow our heads in prayer.

Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your Word that guides us, Your Spirit that empowers us, and Your Son who saves us. As we meditate on Your Word today, open our hearts and minds to understand Your truth. Help us to seek first Your kingdom and Your righteousness, knowing that as we do, all other things will fall into place. We ask this in the precious and powerful name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Let’s get started!

Prioritizing the Presence of God

In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, it's all too easy to get caught up in the mundane tasks that consume our time and energy. We rush from one thing to the next, our minds filled with to-do lists and deadlines. In the midst of this whirlwind, we often forget to pause and simply be in the presence of God. Yet, this is precisely what we are called to do.

It’s a necessity: The presence of God is not a place we visit occasionally when we find the time. It's not a luxury we indulge in when we're not too busy. It's not an optional extra that we can take or leave as we please. Rather, it's a necessity, a vital part of our spiritual life. It's the air we breathe, the food we eat, the water we drink. It's the source of our strength, the foundation of our faith, the wellspring of our joy.

When we prioritize the presence of God: We're not just setting aside time for prayer and Bible study, important as these are. We're making a conscious decision to live in constant awareness of God's nearness. We're choosing to acknowledge Him in all our ways, to seek His guidance in all our decisions, to rely on His strength in all our struggles. We're choosing to live in the light of His love, to walk in the path of His truth, to rest in the shadow of His wings.

This is not always easy: There are times when we feel distant from God, times when we're overwhelmed by our circumstances, times when we're distracted by the cares of this world. But even in these moments, we can choose to draw near to God, to seek His face, to listen for His voice. We can choose to turn our hearts toward Him, to lift our eyes to Him, to reach out to Him in faith.

When we do this: We find that God is always there, waiting for us with open arms. He's always ready to welcome us into His presence, to comfort us with His love, to fill us with His peace. He's always ready to speak to us through His Word, to guide us by His Spirit, to strengthen us with His grace. He's always ready to meet us where we are, to walk with us through our trials, to carry us when we're weak.

The beauty of prioritizing the presence of God: It's not about earning God's favor or proving our worth. It's about experiencing God's love, embracing God's grace, enjoying God's fellowship. It's about living in the reality of God's presence, not just in our quiet times, but in every moment of our lives.

Jesus is calling us: He’s calling us to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. This means making God's presence our top priority, putting Him first in everything we do. It means living our lives in a way that reflects His values, His principles, His standards. It means aligning our thoughts, our words, our actions with His truth, His love, His will. This is not a call to religious ritual or legalistic rule-keeping. It's a call to relationship, to intimacy, to communion with God. It's a call to know God, to love God, to serve God. It's a call to be transformed by God, to be used by God, to be a blessing to others for God.

Respond to this call: We find that all the things we worry about, all the things we strive for, all the things we long for, are given to us as well. Not because we've earned them or deserved them, but because God loves us and wants to bless us. Not because we've sought them, but because we've sought Him. This is the promise of Matthew 6:33. It's not a guarantee of material wealth or worldly success. It's a guarantee of spiritual abundance, of divine provision, of eternal reward. It's a guarantee that as we seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, all these things will be given to us as well.

Who we are: In the end, prioritizing the presence of God is not about what we do, but about who we are. It's not about our performance, but about our identity. It's not about our efforts, but about our relationship with God. It's about being a child of God, a disciple of Christ, a temple of the Holy Spirit. It's about being loved by God, saved by grace, called to serve. It's about being in the presence of God, not just for a moment, but for a lifetime.

Pursuing the Preeminence of God

In the pursuit of God's preeminence, we find ourselves on a path that is both challenging and rewarding ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO