A Concord Minute: I seek you, Jesus!

“[Jesus says:] But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” - Matthew 6:33-34

This bible passage is in the middle of what is generally referred to as the “sermon on the mount.” In this section of Jesus’ sermon, the disciples learn to not be worried about what they will wear, eat, sleep or how well or not their bodies are. Why? The disciples will have much to worry about as they follow Jesus before and after His death and resurrection. The nomadic life of Jesus’ ministry would take the disciples places they would fear, including at their martyrdoms. The 12 disciples were martyred, that is, killed for their faith in Jesus, for seeking His kingdom. In seeking the kingdom of God, these disciples would lose their lives, but they would also find them.

If God can so take care of the birds and the flowers of the fields, wouldn’t God take that much better care of the crown of His creation - humans? So, be of good cheer, disciples. Seek the kingdom of God - me - that is Jesus. Everything needed to support the body and life will be added later. Believe in Jesus and everything else will come as God intends, come what may.

Indeed, there is more to life than simply eating, drinking, and clothing oneself. There is the matter of faith and salvation in Christ. Don’t have faith in Jesus? Who cares about the “extras” of life? Don’t have faith in Jesus? There are bigger things to worry about then than where’s the next meal. Seek first the kingdom of God - me, Jesus. Everything else will come.

Today, the kingdom of God is opened to you by the crucified and risen hands of Jesus. Nothing stands in your way to receive God’s love and forgiveness of your sins. Neither death nor life nor angels nor rules nor things present nor things to come nor powers nor height nor depth nor anything else in all creation separates you from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. God’s kingdom is open to you. How calming a promise for anxious, lost hearts.

And tomorrow? And the next day? And the next day when you’re so lost or so broken or so far gone? Be of good cheer - God’s kingdom and His salvation is yours in Christ. Christ continues to seek you every day, bringing you back to Himself. By faith, you can cling to him. And by his grace, he gives you everything you need. He adds all the good, helpful things after creating faith in Him in you. Today certainly has its own trouble; but tomorrow is in God’s hands. Today, dear anxious ones, speak with me “I seek you, Jesus!” He is here for you.

The Rev. Matthew Berry is pastor of Concordia Lutheran Church in Sikeston, Missouri. Based in Sikeston’s Historic North End, Concordia is a member congregation of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), a theologically conservative, biblically sound, Christ-centered church.