Matthew 6:33 (CSB) - "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you."
Imagine standing at a crossroads where one path is paved with worldly success and comfort and the other is rough, less traveled, yet filled with an unseen, eternal purpose. Seeking first the Kingdom of God is like choosing between a life chasing worldly stuff or embracing your Kingdom purpose. It's not about what everyone else says is successful, but the quiet, steadfast commitment to what is really valuable in eternity. Let’s dive into three ways you can know you’re living your Kingdom purpose.
1. You’re Seeking First the Kingdom of God
Colossians 3:2 (CSB) - "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things."
When you seek first the Kingdom of God, it doesn't mean it's the only thing that’s important; it means it is the one thing that is most important. Saint Augustine, in his work titled “On Christian Doctrine,” taught that mankind’s greatest struggle is not that we love the wrong things, but the right things in the wrong order. Every good thing in your life comes from God (James 1:17). But if you begin to love those good things more than God, then your good things have become your idol. This presents us with a spiritual challenge. God desires to bless us with good things, yet we often mistakenly prioritize these gifts above the Giver, our good God.
It's difficult for us to continually seek first the Kingdom of God while living in this world, and it's God's blessings that make it difficult. In our struggles and afflictions, we naturally turn to God in prayer and seek His help. But in our prosperity and ease, we tend to lose Kingdom focus and get overly focused on the kingdom of this world. Which leads us to the second indicator that you’re living your Kingdom purpose.
2. You’re Dying to Yourself and This World’s Kingdom
Galatians 2:20 (CSB) - "I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."
Each one of us was born with a significant issue—our sin nature. And at the foundation of our sin nature is pride. And the problem with pride is that it's like body odor; everyone else can smell it except for the one who has it.
Dying to yourself means letting go of selfish ambitions, pride, and the lure of worldly success. It's the recognition that you’re not in control; you never were, and you never will be. You must understand that self-denial is not a loss; it's a trade-up from temporary junk to eternal treasures. It's about finding your true identity and purpose in Christ, not in yourself or this world.
3. You’re Being Transformed into the Image of Christ
Romans 8:29 (CSB) - "For those He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters."
You were created in the image of God, but sin marred that image. The only way the image of God can be restored is by positioning yourself under the atoning blood of Jesus Christ. When you do this, your sins are cleansed, and the image of God is restored. The struggle here is that we still have a sin nature, meaning we will still sin to varying extents. So we must be continuously dying to ourselves and this world through confession and repentance from our sins. When we do, we will experience life transformation into the image of Christ.
This is not about a moral makeover but about a radical inner transformation that impacts us at the very core of who we are. It changes the way we think, feel, and act, and it even shifts the desires of our hearts. This doesn't happen naturally. Kingdom living is about making room for the Holy Spirit to work within us, expanding the Kingdom of God in and through our lives.
Living Your Kingdom Purpose is not Easy
Living your Kingdom purpose in your generation is like swimming upstream. The moment you relax, the current of this world and your flesh will quickly pull you downstream. However, as you stay disciplined in your devotions, the Holy Spirit will help you build spiritual endurance, enabling you to continue swimming against the current of this world.
Here's the good news: You join God in His work by disciplining yourself daily to seek first the Kingdom of God. In return, He'll empower you with the ability and endurance to live out your Kingdom purpose. In doing so, you will discover a faith that transforms, a love that outshines, and a hope that anchors you to who you truly are in Christ Jesus.