It is absolutely amazing how quickly God’s children begin to worry and be anxious about earthly things. Whether it is a car repair or geopolitics or how we played in the last game, we are all experts at getting ourselves tied up in knots over things that are completely and utterly unimportant. And at the very same time we cast aside and forget those things that are of the utmost and eternal importance, the only things that actually do matter. We get excited about success and vacations and good grades but we grow bored with prayer, showing mercy to our neighbors, and receiving Holy Communion. We can come up with all the excuses we want, but not a single one of them stand up in light of Jesus words, “seek first the kingdom of God.” First is first. The rich man sought first the riches and comforts of the flesh and his eternal reward was unending torment in the fires of hell. Children of God, the righteousness of God is everything and it is the only thing you can seek that is eternal. Everything else, your heavenly Father knows that you need and He will most certainly give to you when and if it is what you need. Don’t be anxious and don’t be distracted by those things that are of no value. Seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness which He pours out to you in His Word and in the gifts of the sacraments. I look forward to seeing you this coming Lord’s Day.
Pastor Ulmer