Bible Meditations

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Matthew 6:33

Last night, during our regular Wednesday night service, my pastor spoke eloquently about beautiful, simple truths. One of the key verses he referenced was Mathew 6:33. This was the very first Bible verse the Holy Spirit used to touch my heart; this verse, perhaps more obviously than any other, inspired me to become a born-again Christian.

I shall never forget that summer afternoon ten years ago. A good friend invited me to a Christian rally at Forest Hills, NY. I remember the beautiful, clear skies and the pleasant cool breeze on my face as we walked the few blocks towards a stadium where the rally would take place.

Having been a Roman Catholic all my life, I was accustomed to somber mass of the Eucharist. I was astounded to hear the joyful, catchy songs exalting the name of our Lord Jesus in such a happy, lively way. It almost sounded like a regular “party” to my ears. Previously, I associated this degree of conviviality with secular gatherings. As we stood in line to get inside the gates, my friend quickly explained to me that I was in for a real treat. One of best-known names in Spanish evangelism, Alberto Motessi, would be the main speaker that night.

I was not disappointed. By the end of that evening, I knew something unique and real had touched my heart. It was the first message of eternal hope ever to sink deep into my being; I received the hope my soul had been craving since I can remember. Looking back, I would say that the seed of faith was planted in my heart that night.

At the end of the service, Alberto Motessi nonchalantly declared to the audience that if we bought his latest book, “Consuming Passion,” he would give us an individual word from the Lord. A word in season, he added, which would be more accurate than the one we could get from the “Horoscope Psychic” promoted on the local Spanish TV station. I bought the book, and in my personal copy, Montessi wrote the words “Matthew 6:33.” Later that evening, when we got back to my friend’s home, I grabbed her Bible and frantically rifled through the pages looking for the book of Matthew (being a former Catholic, I was used to obeying a priest rather than studying the Holy Scriptures, so it took me quite a few minutes). I was determined to find out what this mysterious “Matthew 6:33” was all about, and what it meant to me.

As I meditated upon this simple verse, I realized it had come to me at the right time. My new life began to make sense to me; I understood that indeed, this was message in due season, straight from God to me. This verse illuminated the dark tunnel I was going through at that time. I was recently divorced and financial survival was a pressing concern. Matthew 6:33 lightened my heavy burden, put things in the right perspective, and helped me choose the path of faith. I believed God was calling me to follow this principal. Behold, I did not yet fathom the depths of this commitment.

A decade later, I still find myself pondering in this awesome verse and wondering what it would mean to us, as Christians, if we were really to live by it. Put simply, I believe it would do nothing short of revolutionize life as we know it: our family cultures, our intimate matters, our health concerns, our career paths, our spending habits, our social customs, even our global community.

Maybe that is why in the exquisite Book of Psalms (containing 150 holy poems altogether), David deals with this concept in the very first one: “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or stand in the way of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.” Psalm 1:1, 2. David then writes about the promises for ones who fulfill such God-pleasing behavior in the next verse: “He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither and whatever he does prospers.”

Obeying this principle would bring heaven closer to earth for the benefit all of God’s creation. And such a revolution would definitely affect our psychological outlook, too. If we submitted our minds to the Holy Spirit, then the Holy Spirit would regulate our thoughts, and our attitudes would transform. Our dreams, desires, goals would dramatically change our behavior, causing us to be “different” from the common mold. Our eyes would always seek the eternal; our hearts behold the everlasting. Our inner selves would be in constant touch with the desires our Heavenly Father places in our hearts. We would perceive earthly status as it truly is: feeble, passing, perishable, and of not eternal consequence.

In 2 Corinthians 4:18, the Apostle Paul wrote, “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” To wear the lenses Paul described would yield profound wisdom: we would invest our energy in obtaining something lasting, something nobody can take from us. Salvation through Jesus Christ is the only treasure that will last for eternity. Without a doubt, it is His plan of salvation that will last. It is the only thing no one can take away from us.

In view of this magnificent realization, would you agree that it would genuine wisdom to concentrate our efforts in obtaining things that will outlast our temporary lives? That it would be smart to keep our eyes on our only and all-sufficient savior, Jesus Christ, the author and finishing of our faith? After all, He is the one that said in Revelation 3:11, “I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.” Because of this verse, I believe our crown has been bought and paid for through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. As royal children of the Most High, Jesus places the crown on our heads. Our responsibility is to hold on to our crowns, through faith. I am committed to keeping my eyes on that crown! Why do I want it so badly? Because when I finally meet Jesus, I want to place my crown at His feet!

Praise your name Lord Jesus!