Visiting the Chicago History Museum this week was an opportunity to “seek” out the history of “The Second City”. The word “seek,” (an attempt to find something), stood out to me because of assigned gospel text for this Sunday from Luke 12.
Jesus begins by saying don’t worry about the things you need to sustain your physical life. After all, the God who made you already knows you need these things. The implication is by making your priority one of “seeking” these things as your priority, often cause you to lack them. So, Jesus says, “But seek God’s Kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well … for God has been pleased to give you the Kingdom.” Using great hyperbole, Jesus is trying to get us to “seek” after the right things and we will get the other things we need.
In “seeking” God’s Kingdom, Jesus says “Don’t be afraid,” … “for God has been pleased to give you the Kingdom.” God’s Kingdom includes the fruits of the spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control right now. If you make taking care of the spiritual side of life with these fruits active in your life, the by-product is it helps you get all the other things God knows you need to sustain your physical self like food. But you must “seek” them and “‘Seek’ is an ACTION verb!”
In “seeking” to know more about Chicago’s history, I was reminded of some commonly unknown truths: (1) The first permanent settler in Chicago was black, Jean Baptiste Point du Sable; (2) The great migration of blacks from the south to Chicago was very welcomed because of the need for labor as white men served in WWI; and (3) “NO, Mrs. O’Leary’s cow did NOT start The Great Chicago Fire!”
It’s amazing what one discovers when one takes the time to “seek.” Join us for worship this Sunday, when the sermon will be “‘Seek’ is an ACTION verb!” based on “Luke 12:29-36.
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