“SEEK HIS KINGDOM… FOR IT IS YOUR FATHER’S GOOD PLEASURE TO GIVE YOU THE KINGDOM.”
— Luke 12:31-32
Every follower of Jesus has a great reason for living.
We are not simply trying cross a stream on stepping stones, hoping not to fall in. No, we’re rafting down river, carried by a powerful current toward a beautiful destination.
The King of kings conquered at the cross and is now seated on the throne of heaven. His kingdom is at hand and is coming on earth as it is in heaven.
Our King’s command is to seek his kingdom. Seek entrance into his kingdom and seek participation in it. There is a great comma after salvation, not a period. The story continues. Jesus rose from death in all four gospels, but then there’s the book Acts. His kingdom advances.
Seek his kingdom. First, surrender your whole life to Jesus Christ. Receive him as Savior and Lord. Then, wrap your life around Jesus’ way. Make his mission your mission. Adopt his priorities as your priorities. Devote yourself, actively and intentionally, to love God, love people and make disciples of all nations.
The Chrisitan faith is not a passive man’s religion. There are no wasted hours on earth. No such thing as killing time to wait for heaven. God brings his kingdom on earth as his people purposefully seek it. Our King expands his territory through human ambassadors who willingly pray and give and preach and serve.
A life in pursuit of God’s kingdom will look foolish to many. It’s a different path than the wide road most are traveling on. There will be losses along the journey. You’ll be misunderstood. Suffering is guaranteed. But take heart, your efforts will not be vain. What you seek you will find. It is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
Any good father would rejoice to see his kids carry on the family business. Just so, God delights to share his kingdom with his children. I believe God will give us as much of his kingdom as we’re willing to seek and can faithfully steward. God is not the bottleneck to seeing more of his kingdom in our world today. We are.
When we are no longer content with comfort or satisfied with success, when we trust God to provide for our needs and go after his kingdom with the best of our energy and resources, then God will gladly give it. This is his command and promise:
Seek his kingdom… for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
© John Rinehart 2025