Seek First the Kingdom

Matthew 6:33 (NKJV):

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

Context: Jesus teaches that our priority should not be on worldly concerns but on God’s kingdom and righteousness. By focusing on God’s eternal purpose, our earthly needs will be provided for, showing that trusting and seeking Him aligns our lives with His divine provision.

Luke 12:29-31 (NKJV):

“And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.”

Context: In this passage, Jesus contrasts the anxious seeking of material needs with the peaceful confidence of those prioritizing God’s kingdom. It assures believers that God knows their needs and that seeking Him is the key to provision and peace.

Seek the Lord Wholeheartedly

Isaiah 55:6 (NKJV):

“Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near.”

Context: This verse is a call to action for God’s people to turn to Him while the opportunity is present. It highlights God’s availability and willingness to respond when we seek Him sincerely. The urgency here emphasizes that this opportunity is not eternal; we must not delay turning to God and calling on Him.

Deuteronomy 4:29 (NKJV):

“But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

Context: This verse is part of Moses’ instructions to the Israelites. Even in moments of despair or exile, God’s promise remains that those who earnestly and wholeheartedly seek Him will find Him. This encourages trust in God’s faithfulness and the assurance of restoration through genuine pursuit.

Jeremiah 29:13 (NKJV):

“And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”

Context: This verse comes from God’s message to the Israelites during their exile in Babylon. It assures them that even in their time of difficulty, a wholehearted pursuit of God will result in His presence and guidance. It highlights the personal and relational nature of seeking God.

Seeking by Faith

Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV):

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

Context: This verse is part of the chapter often called the “Faith Hall of Fame.” It emphasizes that seeking God requires faith—believing in His existence and trusting in His character as one who rewards those who earnestly pursue Him. This connection between faith and seeking highlights the relational aspect of our pursuit of God.

Seeking with the Right Heart

Romans 9:32 (NKJV):

“Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone.”

Context: Paul explains that righteousness comes from faith, not legalistic works. The Jews’ failure to seek God through faith caused them to stumble. This verse teaches that the heart behind seeking matters must be one of faith and trust in God, not self-reliance.

Seek Him Early and Diligently

Psalms 63:1 (NKJV):

“O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water.”

Context: David expresses his longing for God during physical and spiritual dryness. This verse illustrates the desire and urgency to seek God as a source of refreshment and life.

Seek to Live

Amos 5:4 (NKJV):

“For thus says the Lord to the house of Israel: ‘Seek Me and live.’”

Context: This verse comes from God’s call to Israel to turn from their sins and seek Him. It underscores that seeking God leads to life—spiritual renewal, protection, and ultimate salvation. Rejecting this call, however, leads to destruction.

Seek His Strength and Presence

Psalms 105:3-4 (NKJV):

“Glory in His holy name; Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord! Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face evermore!”

Context: This Psalm calls believers to rejoice in their pursuit of God. To seek His strength is to depend on His power in our weakness, and to seek His face is to desire a deeper relationship with Him. It calls for constant, joyful reliance on and communion with God.

Seek His Face Continually

1 Chronicles 16:11 (NKJV):

“Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face evermore!”

Context: As part of a psalm of thanksgiving, this verse encourages the continuous pursuit of God’s presence and strength. It underscores the joy and vitality found in maintaining a relationship with Him.

Psalms 27:8 (NKJV):

“When You said, ‘Seek My face,’ My heart said to You, ‘Your face, Lord, I will seek.’”

Context: David responds to God’s invitation to seek His presence. This verse emphasizes the personal and heartfelt nature of seeking God and the blessings that flow from it.

2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV):

“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

Context: God’s promise to Solomon shows that seeking Him through prayer, humility, and repentance brings forgiveness and restoration. It emphasizes the transformative power of seeking God in the community and individually.

God Rewards Those Who Seek Him

Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV):

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

Context: This verse highlights the importance of faith in seeking God. Those who believe in Him and diligently seek Him are rewarded with His presence, guidance, and blessings.

Lamentations 3:25 (NKJV):

“The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.”

Context: Written in a time of deep sorrow, this verse assures that God’s goodness is experienced by those who seek Him with patience and trust, even in difficult times.

These Bible verses repeatedly encourage believers to “seek” God, portraying it as an intentional, wholehearted, and faith-filled pursuit. Whether seeking His kingdom, righteousness, strength, or face, seeking brings divine provision, protection, and intimacy with God. Seeking involves prioritizing God, trusting in His promises, and aligning our lives with His eternal purposes.