Instead, make your top priority Gods kingdom and his way of life, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33 (TKNT)
Oppression-Free Kingdom – Sermon on the Mount Series – Part 11
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“So let me tell you: don’t worry about your life – what to eat, what to drink; don’t worry about your body, what to wear. There’s more to life than food! There’s more to the body than a suit of clothes.
Have a good look at the birds in the sky. They don’t plant seeds, they don’t bring in the harvest, they don’t store things in barns – and your father in heaven feeds them!
Think how different you are from them! Can any of you add fifteen inches to your height just by worrying about it? Any why worry about what to wear? Take a tip from the lilies in the countryside. They don’t work; they don’t weave; but, let me tell you, not even Solomon in all his finery was dressed as well as one of these. So if God gives that sort of clothing even to the grass in the field, which is here today and on the bonfire tomorrow, isn’t he far more likely to clothe you too, you little-faith lot? So don’t worry away with your ‘What’ll we eat?’ and ‘What’ll we drink?’ and ‘What’ll we wear?’ Those are all the kinds of things the Gentiles fuss about, and your heavenly Father knows you need them all. Instead, make your top priority Gods kingdom and his way of life, and all these things will be given to you as well. So don’t worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow can worry about itself. One day’s troubles at a time is quite enough.” Matthew 6:25-34 (N.T. Wright’s “The Kingdom New Testament Translation”).
PRACTICE: SEEK FIRST GOD’S KINGDOM & HEALING JUSTICE.
King Jesus is comparing God’s glory revealed in the goodness of creation to King Solomon’s splendor. So what is Solomon’s splendor? Deuteronomy 17 goes into detail about how NOT to be a king. Specific stuff about how the God who hears the cries of slaves is anti-slavery, anti-arms dealing, anti-idolatry and anti-wealth accumulation.
King Solomon does all these things. Like he was ticking off a checklist. In fact, Solomon builds a Temple to the God who liberates slaves… and does it with slave labor!
But Jesus is a different sort of King. His glory is seen on a Cross. And as slaves set free from sin we are invited to seek first his oppression-free Kingdom and his healing justice.
Have you ever found yourself asking God to bless what is anti-kingdom or putting bible verses on things that are pro-oppression?
PRAYER: Lord, May our lives seek first your Kingdom on earth. May we increasingly look like Christ and his Cross-shaped glory, not Solomon in all his arms dealing, idol worshipping, slave-trading splendor. Lord have mercy, Amen.
Contributed and Written by: Jarrod McKenna
Facebook.com/jarrodandmates
Twitter: @jarrodmckenna
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