# 1 > The Pharisees of Jesus day were quite "religious" in their behavior, but our Lord often took them to task because "all their works they do for to be seen of men" ( MATTHEW 23:5 ). God's kingdom is first priority: The Lord's admonition in our text was given to focus His followers beyond the "ordinary" desires and needs of their physical existence. We are expected to "look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal" ( 2 CORINTHIANS 4:18 ). As promised, when we are rightly focused, "all these [ other ] things shall be added unto you" ( MATTHEW 6:33 ). Yielded to righteousness: We become "servants" of those things that we "obey." We obey that which we have "yielded" ourselves to ( ROMANS 6:16 ). It is not possible to "serve two masters" ( MATTHEW 6:24 ). Our "members" ( our physical bodies ) can either become "instruments" ( weapons ) of ungodliness or of righteousness ( ROMANS 6:13 ). We either "walk" after the Spirit or after the flesh ( ROMANS 8:1 ).
# 2 > Doggedly pursue godliness: "But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness" ( 1 TIMOTHY 6:11 ). Even though our "new man" longs for righteousness, and we consciously yield ourselves to seek and serve God's kingdom, "with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin" ( ROMANS 7:25 ). We must never become slack in our diligence. "Let him that thinketh he sandeth take heed lest he fall" ( 1 CORINTHIANS 10:12 ).
# 3 Others will try to turn your heart: Jereboam ( 1 KINGS 11__12 ) led Israel in rebellion against Judah and against God. He "devised of his own heart" ( 1 KINGS 12:33 ) liturgical practices that "made Israel to sin" ( 1 KINGS 15:34 ). Peter warns: "Beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness" ( 2 PETER 3:17 ).
We must guard our hearts, "for out of it are the issues of life
( PROVERBS 4:23 ).
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