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

I loved this today in My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers: “Faith always works in a personal way, because the purpose of God is to see that perfect faith is made real in His children. For every detail of common sense in life, there is a truth God has revealed by which we can prove in our practical experience what we believe God to be. Faith is a tremendously active principle that always puts Jesus Christ first. The life of faith says, “Lord, You have said it, it appears irrational, but I’m going to step out boldly, trusting in Your Word” (for example, see Matthew 6:33). Turning intellectual faith into our personal possession is always a fight, not just sometimes. God brings us into particular circumstances to educate our faith, because the nature of faith is to make the object of our faith very real to us. Until we know Jesus, God is merely a concept, and we can’t have faith in Him. But once we hear Jesus say, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father,” (John 14:9), we immediately have something that is real, and our faith is limitless. Faith is the entire person in the right relationship with God through the power of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.”

In our chapter, Isaiah 46, in a chart below they showed the 7 idols of the ancient kingdoms and what was included in their worship – for all there was child sacrifice and for the Babylonians it also included prostitution. Try to imagine that today. And Creator God – Father…Son…Spirit, describes the absurdity of what they can’t see. Bel bows down, Nebo stoops low; their idols are borne by beasts of burden. The images that are carried about are burdensome, a burden for the weary. They stoop and bow down together; unable to rescue the burden, they themselves go off into captivity. v. 1-2. Their idols couldn’t save them. Listen to Me, you descendants of Jacob, all the remnant of the people of Israel, you whom I have upheld since your birth, and have carried since you were born. Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain and I will rescue you. v. 3-4. Have we considered how God sustains us? The air we breathe, the water we drink, the seeds bearing crops for food, the animals and fish, the mountains, streams, valleys, sunshine, heat, cold…life itself! Even His words to us recorded faithfully! I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, “My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.” From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill My purpose. What I have said, that I will bring about; what I have planned, that I will do. Listen to Me, you stubborn-hearted, you who are now far from My righteousness…I am bringing My righteousness near…it is not far away…and My salvation will not be delayed. I will grant salvation to Zion, My splendor to Israel. v. 10-13.

Some argue the cruelty, the evil, the devastation in this world. Some argue that God sacrificed His Son. The reason My Father loves Me is that I lay down My life – only to take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from My Father. John 10:17-18. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:1-5. His life is the light that shines in the darkness of cruelty, evil and devastation we have made. Never forget…For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. John 3:16-17. What beautiful light that prepares our way in His love for us. Look for His Love. Seek His Kingdom and His righteousness and there you find Him and the Love He has for you.