SEEK FIRST HIS KINGDOM
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. —Matthew 6:33
In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. —Matthew 6:9 - 105 O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot.
6 The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; yes, I have a good inheritance. —Psalms 16:9 - 102 Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them,
3 and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
—Matthew 18:2 - 4
SEEKING A CHILDLIKE HEART
1 Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.
2 Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich.
3 And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature.
4 So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way.
5 And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.”
6 So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully.
7 But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.”
8 Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.”
9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham;
10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” —Luke 19:1 - 10
1. A childlike heart is only at home in one kingdom.
1 Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.
2 Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. —Luke 19:1 - 27 So He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted how they chose the best places, saying to them:
8 “When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him; —Luke 14:7 - 823 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
25 When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”
26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” —Matthew 18:23 - 26For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. —Galatians 6:8
2. Getting back to a childlike heart starts with a desire to see Jesus.
And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. —Luke 19:3
One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple. —Psalms 27:4
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. —Matthew 7:7
3. A childlike heart doesn’t care what the world thinks.
So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. —Luke 19:4
Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. —Matthew 18:4
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. —James 4:10
And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. —Matthew 23:12
4. A childlike heart sets you up for divine interruption.
5 And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.”
6 So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. —Luke 19:5 - 6Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. —Revelation 3:20
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. —John 1:14
For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. —John 3:17
5. Religion will never understand the relationship between Jesus and a childlike heart.
But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.” —Luke 19:7
18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’
19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her children.” —Matthew 11:18 - 19Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. —Matthew 23:27
6. The presence of Jesus in His Kingdom brings transformation that is unworldly.
8 Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.”
9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham;
10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” —Luke 19:8 - 10There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. —Romans 8:1
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. —2 Corinthians 5:17