Materialism#2

This is the same passage we looked at yesterday, but in the "Message" which is a paraphrased Bible Translation by Eugene Peterson. 

What I really like about this translation of this passage is the way in which Peterson unpacks the idea of "seeking first the Kingdom of God" because he's really linking into what I've been trying to say with "Reality Bytes": 

1. Move from the pursuit of "getting" and respond to God's giving.
2. Understand the way God works: "Every good and perfect gift comes from Him." (James 1:17) 
3. "Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions."
   - Life each day secure that Christ is Risen and interested in you.
   - Know that God has loved you long before you thought of loving Him.
   - Understand that He provides our needs and not our wants. 

The Greek word for "seek" (which Peterson translates "steep"2) implies making a careful search, doing a thorough investigation or research, it means "get immersed in your subject." ((The English word "steep" is a cooking word - it means to: imbue, immerse, infuse, ingrain, invest, marinate, permeate, saturate, soak, or submerge)

Jesus is calling us to become quiet enough to observe and experience the God of all creation and to live our lives under His care. When His Reality becomes our way of life (our bytes) then the shadow-reality of materialism will stop "biting" us.

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This brings us to the end of this series - I hope it has been meaningful!