Seek First –

Following Jesus From the Edges

Seek First

Pastor Calvin Cook

July 1, 2026

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Matthew 6:33

As I shared yesterday morning of the call back to finding that place of sanctuary. Today as I try to keep that same focus. My mind continues to wonder off to carrying the burdens of this day, many things distract me. Many mornings before my feet ever touch the floor, my mind is moving from one responsibility to another. There are people to care for, decisions to make, bills to pay, sermons to prepare, businesses to lead, and concerns that seem to grow faster than my ability to solve them. These are the things that keep us awake at night.

Perhaps you know those mornings too. We all have them !

As I sat quietly with Jesus’ words from Matthew 6 this morning, I realized once again that these are not simply encouraging words. They are ancient instructions from the One who knows the human heart better than we know ourselves.

Jesus had just spoken about food, clothing, tomorrow’s worries, and all the things that consume our attention. Then He offered something radically different from the way the world naturally thinks:

“Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness…”

Not seek success first. Not seek security first. Not seek answers first. Seek God first.

I have often found myself asking God to bless my plans, when perhaps I should first be asking if my plans are part of His Kingdom. There is a huge difference between those two prayers.

The ancient followers of Christ understood this well. They ordered their lives around the presence of God. Prayer came before activity. Worship before work. Surrender before striving. They believed that when God was truly first, everything else found its proper place.

That does not mean life suddenly becomes easy. Jesus never promised that. What He did promise is that when the Kingdom becomes our highest pursuit, we no longer have to carry the impossible burden of trying to be our own provider, protector, and savior.

I am reminded that seeking God’s Kingdom is not simply something I do during my devotional time. It is choosing His will when no one is watching. It is speaking with grace when frustration would be easier. It is serving rather than demanding to be served. It is loving difficult people. It is trusting God even when I cannot yet see where the road leads.

Perhaps the greatest invitation in this verse is not to do more, but to reorder our hearts.

Before the emails. Before the meetings. Before the headlines. Before the worries. Before tomorrow. Seek Him.

Constantly strive to find that quiet – holy place where it is just you and God and you’re standing or sitting or lying just present with God.

Everything else begins to look different when our eyes are first fixed on Christ.

Prayer

Lord, Your words have guided Your people for generations, and they still speak life today. Teach me to seek Your Kingdom before my own ambitions, Your righteousness before my own opinions, and Your presence before my own plans. Order my heart so that every decision begins with You. Help me trust that as I place You first, You will faithfully provide what I truly need. In the name of Jesus, Amen.