But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Matthew 6:33
Do you ever worry about life’s needs and wants – and the money that can supply those things? I know I have, and at times, I still find myself falling back to those concerns and worries. Apparently, so did the people in Jesus’ day, which is why this portion of the Sermon on the Mount contains teachings by Jesus about issues like treasures on earth versus treasures in heaven (6:19-21)1-3 and about watching out for the desire of “the eye” (6:22)4. He also warned them that they could not serve two masters (6:24)5, in other words, they could not serve the desires of their heart and eyes and God. This is when Jesus pointed out their worries and cares about the things of this world, like clothes, food, and drink. He wanted them – and us – to know and to remember that God would take care of them and their needs – their greater concern and pursuit (and ours) should be God’s Kingdom and His righteousness. Actually, look at the verse again and pay careful attention to the fact that Jesus says, “Pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
To seek God’s kingdom and His righteousness means to live in that ongoing repentance from sin, and to lead the kind of sincere, from-the-heart, devoted-to-God lifestyles Jesus has been describing. In response, God will make provision for whatever it is we truly “need” in order to accomplish His will.
Bibleref.org / Matthew 6:24
The applicable message, then, for us, as disciples of Jesus or simply curious readers of His truths, is to know that it is God who cares for our needs, and we can and should trust Him to do this while we occupy ourselves with the pursuit of His Kingdom and righteousness.
Note that Jesus’ audience in Matthew chapter 6 included “His chosen disciples, committed followers, and simply curious listeners.” Bibleref.com / chapter five context
Are you a disciple of Jesus or simply a curious reader of the blog? If you fall under the curious listener – welcome! I invite you to follow the link to Know These Truths, where you will find all you need to know about becoming a disciple of Jesus.
And I pray this, that your love may abound even more and more in knowledge and every kind of insight 10 so that you can decide what is best, and thus be sincere and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.
Philippians 1:9-11
Paul’s Heart for the Philippians
Verses three through eight should be mentioned as they give an insight to Paul’s feelings about the people in the church at Philippi. His words are a testament to his thankfulness and joy in the people and their dedication to God and the Gospel. It is evident that they held a special place in his heart. No doubt, this affection led to – or at least played a part in – the prayer we read above, in verses nine through eleven.
3 Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. 4 Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, 5 for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. 6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
7 So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart. You share with me the special favor of God, both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the Good News. 8 God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:3-8
It is a beautiful prayer to pray for any church body, ministry leader, missionary, or believer. Actually, we would be wise to pray this prayer of Paul’s for ourselves and everyone participating in this study, that we might know the success of being “set apart” and living a life that brings glory and praise to our God.
Paul’s Prayer
Living a life for God’s glory, if we are honest, is like swimming against the current of the ocean. It is difficult at best and often seemingly impossible in today’s world. We can feel like strangers and aliens or like misfits in a culture that, as my Pastor preached this morning, is totally evil. It doesn’t take long to realize that we need help to live a life that is truly “set apart” for/to God; and the only true help there is comes from praying to and walking with God – our help and strength and defense.
The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil.
Genesis 6:5
Paul’s prayer for the believers of Philippi is a beautiful prayer and a wonderful example for us to pray. It is evident that he understood the difficulty of living a life that is set apart for (ie. dedicated to) God and the Gospel mission. He knew that it requires an increasing amount of love for, knowledge of, and insight to God and His Word. He knew the importance of a sincere and blameless testimony, and of a fruitful life that comes through Jesus Christ. Paul understood and emphasized that the goal of a believer is to bring glory and praise to God, and he prayed to this end.
A Response of Prayer
Father, thank You for the gift of prayer. Thank You for the power and the strength and the hope we know when we talk to You or spend time with you in Your Word. It is a gift that allows us a relationship with You and the ability to engage in the lives of others as we lift them up in prayer. Thank You for Paul’s example and insight the prayer gives us. As we journey through Your Word together or as we daily live out the life You have called us to – I pray Paul’s prayer back to You, that our love may abound even more and more in knowledge and every kind of insight so that we can decide what is best, and thus be sincere and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to Your glory and praise. – In the name of Jesus – amen!
6 Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
Regardless of how convinced we are that living set apart from the world is the right way to live the commitment can be daunting. It takes courage to look different, sound different – to be different than the world around us. We may lack boldness and at times true conviction, or we may fear the mocking or desertion of others that often come with the choices we make that are different than the norm. This is is why prayer is essential. God invites us to bring Him all of our anxiety, all our cares, concerns, and fears (1 Peter 5:7). He tells us to ask for wisdom (James 1:5), and to call to Him for help (Ps 17:6; 120:1) and strength (1 Chron 16:11). And He says He has given us everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3-4). If you want to live set apart – simply tell God. Ask Him for His help, lean on Him for His strength, and watch expectantly for what happens in the days ahead. Trust Him, He is faithful and He will answer whenever we ask for anything that pleases Him – and we know when we live set apart from the world it pleases Him.
And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. 15 And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.
1 john 5:14-15
Today’s Prayer
Father, thank You that You hear us when we pray. Thank You for opening Your throne room of grace where we can bring You our anxieties, our fears, and concerns, our need for help and lacking of strength. Thank You for Your promise of wisdom and Your promise to hear and answer. We are most blessed to be Yours but it isn’t always easy to live set apart from the world – to look and sound different than those around us, to have to say no when we would sometimes rather say yes – but You have called us to live in the world but not of it. So we seek Your wisdom, Your strength and peace and help to be courageous. May Your Spirit quickly convict us when we are looking or sounding too much like the world so that our testimony will always be a reflection of Christ in us that brings You glory and lights the way for others to know You. – In Jesus’ name, amen and amen!
The More We Know
The following quote is from Gotquestions.org and address the question about what it means to Live in the world but not of the world. It is helpful in the quest to live set apart and why.
Believers in Jesus Christ are simply in the world—physically present—but not of it, not part of its values (John 17:14-15). As believers, we should be set apart from the world. This is the meaning of being holy and living a holy, righteous life—to be set apart. We are not to engage in the sinful activities the world promotes, nor are we to retain the insipid, corrupt mind that the world creates. Rather, we are to conform ourselves, and our minds, to that of Jesus Christ (Romans 12:1-2). This is a daily activity and commitment.
6 Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
Regardless of how convinced we are that living set apart from the world is the right way to live the commitment can be daunting. It takes courage to look different, sound different – to be different than the world around us. We may lack boldness and at times true conviction, or we may fear the mocking or desertion of others that often come with the choices we make that are different than the norm. This is is why prayer is essential. God invites us to bring Him all of our anxiety, all our cares, concerns, and fears (1 Peter 5:7). He tells us to ask for wisdom (James 1:5), and to call to Him for help (Ps 17:6; 120:1) and strength (1 Chron 16:11). And He says He has given us everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3-4). If you want to live set apart – simply tell God. Ask Him for His help, lean on Him for His strength, and watch expectantly for what happens in the days ahead. Trust Him, He is faithful and He will answer whenever we ask for anything that pleases Him – and we know when we live set apart from the world it pleases Him.
And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. 15 And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.
1 john 5:14-15
Today’s Prayer
Father, thank You that You hear us when we pray. Thank You for opening Your throne room of grace where we can bring You our anxieties, our fears, and concerns, our need for help and lacking of strength. Thank You for Your promise of wisdom and Your promise to hear and answer. We are most blessed to be Yours but it isn’t always easy to live set apart from the world – to look and sound different than those around us, to have to say no when we would sometimes rather say yes – but You have called us to live in the world but not of it. So we seek Your wisdom, Your strength and peace and help to be courageous. May Your Spirit quickly convict us when we are looking or sounding too much like the world so that our testimony will always be a reflection of Christ in us that brings You glory and lights the way for others to know You. – In Jesus’ name, amen and amen!
The More We Know
The following quote is from Gotquestions.org and address the question about what it means to Live in the world but not of the world. It is helpful in the quest to live set apart and why.
Believers in Jesus Christ are simply in the world—physically present—but not of it, not part of its values (John 17:14-15). As believers, we should be set apart from the world. This is the meaning of being holy and living a holy, righteous life—to be set apart. We are not to engage in the sinful activities the world promotes, nor are we to retain the insipid, corrupt mind that the world creates. Rather, we are to conform ourselves, and our minds, to that of Jesus Christ (Romans 12:1-2). This is a daily activity and commitment.
How blessed is the one who does not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand in the pathway with sinners, or sit in the assembly of scoffers. 2 Instead he finds pleasure in obeying the Lord’s commands; he meditates on his commands day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by flowing streams; it yields its fruit at the proper time, and its leaves never fall off. He succeeds in everything he attempts.
Psalm 1:1-3
Are you more influenced by God or the world? Or, to phrase it as Bibleref.com puts it – are you “governed by God” or by your “evil passions”? Our focus passage reveals the life of one who chooses to walk in the ways of God but to fully appreciate the depth of how blessed this person is we must also explore verses four through six.
The Godly
governed by God
Blessed
Pleasure
Meditation
Strong/firm
Fruitful
Successful
follows after God – not the wicked
Does not “stand with sinners”
“those who choose to do wrong”
Is not joined “with scoffers”
“those who mock God, or the righteous, or oppose whatever is virtuous”
The Ungodly
governed by self/evil passions
Wicked
Sinners
Scoffers
Worthless
“the husks of grain that are tossed into the wind and blown away”
Under judgment
“sentenced to eternal punishment”
Excluded from the blessing
Facing destruction
Choosing to Live Under the Influence of God
The choice seems like a “no-brainer” but in reality we all deal with, or at the very least have battled, the desire to follow our own passions whether they are good or bad. God’s Word makes it clear, as seen here in this Psalm, that choosing God is the far greater choice, offering benefits in this life and in the one to come, as Paul wrote to TImothy in 1 TImothy 4:8. When we choose to live under the influence of God we choose immeasurable blessing but when we choose to live under the influence of our own evil passions we are headed for destruction.
As we saw in the previous post, meditation on God’s Word is part of living under God’s influence. His Word is actually what leads to the all that the Psalmist lists as the outcome of the godly life. For it is from His Word that we know His blessings and we find pleasure, strength, fruitfulness, and success when we follow after His Word. It is His Word that protects us from the sins that seek to entangle us and from the paths we should not follow or from sitting in opposition to God’s virtuous ways.
So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.
Romans 8:6
Because meditation on God’s Word is central to the application of the Godly life it is important to what meditation means in this context. Itis notan emptying of the mind but rather it is a filling of the mind with Scripture,1 It requires more than a quick 15-minutes a day. Don’t get me wrong – I’m not saying a quick read of the morning or before bed or even at lunch isn’t a wonderful and profitable thing but truly filling your mind with Scripture demands more than just quickly reading or listening to it. It means thinking about it, dwelling on it, learning more about God, self, and others from it, and practicing it in all of life – in Christian surroundings or in the darkness of the world. It means Sunday to Sunday, at work, at home, in the neighborhood, with friends or family, when your kids are around and when they’re not. It means morning , noon, and night living with an awareness of the Word and living out its wisdom.
Today’s Prayer
Father, help us to align our lives – our time, our company, our words, and our choices – with Your ways rather than the world’s. When we encounter the wicked surround us with Your protection but also cause Your grace and mercy to flow out from us toward them, as we remember that before You saved us – we too were numbered among them. When we are in the paths of sinners makes us lights and beacons of hope so that they might turn from their evil passions to Faith in Christ. When we find ourselves in the company of those who mock Your Word and ways may we be quick and lovingly bold with the Truth of Your Word and silence their scoffing. And Father, please guard us from attitudes of hate or unkindness toward those who follow their own passions rather than You – help us not to see ourselves as better than them but as blessed by You as the Psalmist so eloquently describes.
1Meditation defined: Worthwhile meditation does not require a person to empty his or her mind. Scripture does not support the idea of self-emptying in meditation—godly meditation means filling the mind with Scripture. To meditate on Scripture involves pondering what the Bible teaches about God’s character. It involves thinking deeply about what His Word teaches about ourselves and others. As we meditate, we cherish the promises and precepts we find in the Bible, we heed its commands, we confront our sins and confess them, and we conform our thoughts to God’s thoughts. Bibleref.org/Ps 1:2
Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. – Joshua 1:8
The passage makes it clear that we cannot begin to live “Set-Apart” for Christ if we:
do not have a relationship with Him
are walking in weakness (on our own)
do not know and obey His Word
do not believe His promises
However, the passage also makes it clear how we can begin to live “Set-Apart” for Christ. God says that if we walk in His ways, “not swerving to the right or the left,” in other words not veering off His righteous path, we will prosper and know success (7). The question is how do we do this effectively while living in a world that pulls us in every direction? God makes it clear to Joshua in verse eight that the answer lies in knowing His Word, actually – he uses the phrase “meditate on it day and night.” The idea is to, as the NET version translates, “memorize” the Word – which of course means ‘to know it.’ David believed that doing this would help him not sin against God, (Ps 119:11). Paul taught the same principle to Timothy, when he encouraged him to know God’s Word so that he would be ready to use it correctly and not be swayed by false teaching, (2 Tim 2:15). If we are to obey God’s Word and correctly share God’s Word with others we must be more than familiar with it, we must know and progressively grow in our understanding of It – otherwise we will fall prey to ways that do not align with the Word of God.
I love the Old Testament passages that teach this so clearly, such as Psalm 119:9-11 and proverbs 4:20-22. These are two of the passages that reignited in me a pursuit of memorizing God’s Word more than three decades ago. As I find myself forgetting more and more these days – one of my frequent prayers has become for God to guard His Word that is hidden in my heart so that even if I forget everything and everyone else I know – I will never forget His Word – for it is my/our life-line, my/our peace and strength and hope – it is the light that guides me/us in God’s way – and it is my/our defense against sin.
Today’s Prayer
Father, without You – without Your promises or knowledge of Your faithfulness we have nothing and we are hopeless. However, with You and through You we have hope and strength and peace to live the lives You have called us to. We may not lead a nation, like Joshua – but You have called us to be salt and light – to be bold with the Gospel – to make disciples – to love as You loved and serve as Christ served. Help us to walk and talk with You daily and help us to know Your Word so that we can trust Your heart. Help us to be strong and brave so that we do not turn away from Your Word and Your calling to walk in all Your ways. – In Jesus’ Name, amen!
Reflections of the Journey
How does saturating our hearts and minds with God’s Word help us live a set apart life and remain anchored to truth?
What are some steps you can/will take to hiding God’s Word in your heart?
Me From the Inside Out 