Seeking First

When you receive this, Josanne and I should be somewhere along the way to La Plata, Argentina. We appreciate the well-wishes you all offered yesterday. We’d very much appreciate your prayers over the next couple of weeks as we seek to serve the people of Argentina. We will especially be working with some faithful missionaries and church leaders in La Plata. We’re going down at the invitation of a former student of mine named Randy Caldwell. We’ll be staying with him and his family. I forgot to say yesterday that we are planning to send some pictures and stories as we are able. Hopefully Terri can post some of them on Facebook from time to time so you can share in some of what we are doing there.

Yesterday our worship time was centered on Matthew 6, and I think this chapter contains of the best descriptions of what it means to be a follower of Jesus. Matthew 6:33 reads, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well,” (NIV). Now Jesus is talking about how we shouldn’t worry about the pursuit of our physical needs, because our Father is loving and will provide for our needs. The idea of having a singular focus that prioritizes God’s Kingdom is here as well. As I said, I think this describes well what it means to be a disciple. We think about God’s Kingdom ahead of our own agenda.

Mike Claver has generously agreed to preach over the next two Sunday which allows us to make this trip. I appreciate him doing this so much.

I’ll be thinking about and praying for you all while we’re gone.

God bless, Brian

Scripture readings for next Sun

Matthew 7—What do you notice in the conclusion to Jesus’ sermon?

Leviticus 19:9-18—What sounds familiar in this passage from the Law?

Romans 2:1-16—What does Paul say about judging others here?

Psalm 5—What does this psalm teach about living righteously