Seek First the Kingdom: The Divine Deception

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." Matthew 6:33

 “The Road to Emmaus” is one my favorite stories in the New Testament. As a writer and reader, it works as a great short story. It takes place at sunset which lends to the air of intrigue. Jesus physically disguises himself from his own disciples which sets it up for a great mystery, and the twist ending I’m certain Tolkien took inspiration from for ‘Bilbo and the ring’ for his seminal The Lord of the Rings book series. Recently, I found myself in the shoes of the two disciples, walking the road at sunset, uncertain of where the night would take me.

Mark 16:12 tells us that Jesus "appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country." This wasn't accidental. Jesus deliberately concealed His identity from these grieving followers. But why would the loving Savior hide from those who needed Him most?

In the past few weeks, I’ve been struggling with finding the right answer to an important situation. Despite telling myself I was acting the way I believed to be right, I ultimately had shrouded myself in deceit. My way of acting the “the bigger person” quite simply was me parading around my self-righteousness. I thought “rising above” my hurt and “mastering” my feelings would solve the problem. How wrong I was.

Little did I realize, my deception is what led to God’s ‘Divine Deception.’

Learning to Seek First the Kingdom

Finally, I had to admit to myself I hadn’t really prayed about the situation, I had allowed my headspace to be filled with doubt and frustration. One night, the idea of praying about it came ot me as if it were a novel idea. Answers didn’t come to me as easily in prayer as I assumed they would. I couldn’t see my way through the prayer. It was as if I was slowly feeling my way through a dense fog. Ultimately, the answer was so clear it had always been there. Matthew 6:33 provided the key to unlocking my problem: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." I did not need to “fix” anything; I needed to submit and seek the Master’s Divine Will.

As with nearly all things in Christendom, the answer could only be found in the contradiction. It was only through God’s Divine Deception I could see the Truth. God's merciful strategy of allowing my circumstances to remain unclear until He exposed what's really happening in my heart was just what I needed.

As Jesus walked with the two disciples, "their hearts burned within them" while He explained the Scriptures (Luke 24:32). They sensed something profound was happening, yet their eyes remained closed to His identity. They were experiencing the presence of Christ without recognizing Him—much like we often do. Here's the crucial insight: their inability to recognize Jesus wasn't primarily about His changed appearance. It was about the doubt that He would rise from the dead that clouded their vision.

Romans 8:28 reminds us that "God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose." What appeared to be confusion and loss was actually God's perfect timing at work. The disciples needed to voice their doubts, express their disappointment, and reveal the true condition of their hearts before their eyes could be opened.

When God Feels Distant

This divine pattern continues today. When God seems distant or disguised in your circumstances, He is likely creating space for you to acknowledge the doubts you've been carrying. The cloud of confusion you're experiencing might not be punishment—it could be preparation. The doubt we harbor needs to be brought into the light before clarity can come. Just as the disciples' eyes were opened at the perfect moment when Jesus broke bread with them, God will reveal Himself to you when the time is right.

The Divine Deception isn't cruel—it's compassionate. God allows temporary confusion to create transformation in you.

Your burning heart may be the first sign that Jesus is nearer than you think.

Always improve the present moment.

Today: instead of demanding immediate clarity from God, honestly acknowledge to Him one doubt or disappointment you've been carrying. Then read Matthew 6:33 as a prayer.