Seek God Above All Else

Wednesday, December 31st, 2025

4:30 am

Good morning! Today I am in Matthew 5:1-12 and Luke 6:20-26. Here Jesus is still up on the mountain with the 12 disciples He had chosen. He begins teaching them about God's blessings. This is the Sermon on the Mount or the Beatitudes. He tells them that God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for Him. God blesses those who mourn for they will be comforted. God blesses those who are humble. God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice for they will be satisfied. God blesses those who are merciful. God blesses those whose hearts are pure. God blesses those who work for peace. God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right. He then tells them to be happy when people mock them, persecute them, and lie about them because they are His followers for a great reward in heaven awaits them. Luke tells the same thing, but he adds that sorrow awaits those who are rich, who are fat and prosperous, who laugh now, and are praised by the crowds.

In these scriptures Jesus is telling us that everything we need is found in God. We cannot put all our hope in this world, or the things of this world for all of it will pass away. Everything we have can be gone in an instant, but God is eternal. If we seek the Lord and what He has for us, He will bless us, and give us everything we need. But if we seek the things of this world (fame, fortune, praise from the crowds, etc...) we will never be truly satisfied. Only God provides everything that we need. Our ultimate joy and peace come from Him, not this world. Then He reminds us to not be scared to face persecution for following Him, because He has more for us than this world. He is our eternity. When you seek Him with your whole heart, He will bless you with everything you need.

Do you seek the things of this world or God? No matter what you are going through today, God can help you. He is the one that provides everything we need. He can help us face what ever trial we are going through. We cannot put all our hope in the things of this world, we can't even place all our hopes on people. The things of this world will pass away. People will pass away. People will hurt us or disappoint us. But when your focus is on God, He will give you everything you need, including the strength to face whatever trial you will go through.

This is a good way to end the Year. Reflecting on where your focus is. How did this year go for you? Where was your focus? If you noticed that your attention was not on God, but on all the bad things that happened to you or the things of this world, now is a time to refocus your attention on Him. We cannot control this world or what happens to us, but we can control what we do and how we react to things. When you refocus on God, and place all your hope in Him, He will help you. Ask Him to help you, and He will.

I hope you have a Happy New Year and if you go out tonight to celebrate, be safe. I pray that God will bless you in this New Year!