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NASB | Matthew 6:33 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 6:33 "But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right--the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also. |
Bible Question: Are we suppose to seek sign and wonders of the Lord's favor in our lives and ministries? |
Bible Answer: Dear Cuddle, The great commission provides the purpose, process, and product of the church. What we should seek ourselves, therefore, is to be people whose lives are being transformed by the Gospel. A disciple is one who, over time, looks more and more like Christ (Romans 8:29); and who, over time, loves Christ more and more (John 14:21). I'm uncertain what you mean by seeking "the Lord's favor." If you are asking about increasing His love for us, then that reveals a fundamental error. There is nothing a believer can do to increase or decrease God's love. He has demonstrated that love by giving us His Son (Romans 8:32). What more is there? If you mean, instead, you are interested in increasing God's grace in your life, then that is something that can and ought to be done; but remember that God grants grace and power in order to accomplish His own eternal purpose, not our personal agendas. God has decreed specific means of grace; i.e., channels or mechanisms by which He dispenses His grace to those who seek Him. As He is sovereign, He may choose to make use of other means, however, as His subjects, we may choose no other means. These means of grace include study of the Word (Psalm 119:9) through regular reading, memorizing, meditation, and submitting to expository preaching (1 Corinthians 1:18); prayer (James 4:8); fellowship with believers (Hebrews 10:24); worship (Revelation 15:4); praise (Psalm 99:3); communion (1 Corinthians 11:26-34; see also post #181621); etc. etc. In Him, Doc "Lord place in me an inclination to be holy and strive to be like Jesus Christ, to draw from Him my daily strength and peace. As I labor to have the same mind that was in Him that I might be conformed to His image, impart Your grace that it may be so. As it was the aim of Jesus to forgive others (like He forgave me) let me likewise aim to bear with and forgive others... to be unselfish in the same way that Christ lived not to please Himself. To walk in love, even as Christ walked in love... to be lowly minded and humble, as Christ also made Himself of no reputation and humbled Himself." --John Hendryx |