Page 125 - First Steps 2023

Session 8: Doing God’s Will

Devotion

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

“One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating.
Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him,
‘Of all the commandments, which is the most important?’ ‘The most
important one,’ answered Jesus, ‘is this: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our
God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and
with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”
The second is this: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” There is no com-
mandment greater than these’” (Mark 12:28-31).

Deciding to do God’s will means you also decide to quit insisting on
doing your own will.
And for many followers of Jesus, that’s a huge challenge.
We like being in charge. We enjoy having our independence. In many
cases, we’ve fought hard for the right to determine our own course, and it
feels like a step backward to give that up.

But independence can be a trap. Depending on God while you’re also
depending on yourself…that’s a tough balance to strike. Something’s got
to give.
We have already learned in session 3 that our life orientation should
be to “seek first his kingdom” (Matthew 6:33). Do you consider yourself
an independent person? Have you found your heart and emotions more
inclined to “seek first his kingdom” since following Jesus? Why?

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