Remembering the Miracle

Matthew 6:33

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

When you come back to running after being away for an extended illness or injury, every workout reminds you that running is a privilege. After not running for months, and wondering if I would ever run again, I find that my workouts are full of praise and thanksgiving. I used to wear headphones to drown out the outside world, but now I run without music so I can savor every glorious moment. With every step, I thank God for the miracle of running again.

But I have to admit that as wondrous as this all sounds, I know that it will not last forever. Not the running part, but the thanksgiving part. The reality is that after a while, I begin to take my blessings for granted.

It reminds me of another miracle that I take for granted – something far more powerful and life-changing. It’s the miracle that gives me eternal life: salvation.

I was baptized as an infant and sealed with the Holy Spirit long before I could really even comprehend what it meant to be saved. But when I was an adult and read 1 John 3:14 (We know that we have passed from death to life) I understood that I could be sure of eternal life in Heaven.

When my pastor showed me this Bible verse, I felt tremendous relief and happiness, and the problems of this world did not get me down. I thanked God with every step I took.

And yet, with time, I began to take the blessing of salvation for granted. And then I slowly began to view worldly things as more important than Heavenly things. I prioritized the temporary ahead of the Kingdom of God. I worried about the future and I tried to find security in things that did not last. And unfortunately, I still do these things. Sure, I “include” God’s Kingdom as “part of my day,” but do I ever make it my sole priority, goal, and passion?

Jesus doesn’t just invite us to seek His grace and bring it to others, he commands it. Why? Because His grace frees us to live in His love. It builds up the Body of Christ. He promises that we do not have to worry about the things of this world. If we seek Him first, He will take care of the rest.

Maybe you, too, have lost gratitude for the miracle and seek the things of this world over Him. Let’s pray together that God will lead us back to Him as our first priority.

Heavenly Father, how amazing it is that You have called us into Your family and are happy to share Your kingdom with us. Forgive us for not seeking You first. Renew our gratitude and let that gratitude draw other people to You and into Your kingdom. Helps us to trust You enough to seek You above all else. In Jesus’ name we pray…AMEN.