Saturday, April 19, 2014
First Things First
It can be a challenge getting our priorities straight. Whether we are single or have families there can be many distractions. There is the place where we live, our transportation, what we eat, what we wear… all of these things can consume our thinking time. And we do need to consider these things in life at times. However, we also need to consider the most important thing in our life, our relationship with God. This should be our first thought, but if you are like me, it is so easy to wake up with my head already full of thoughts. The scriptures give us valuable direction about this.
Matthew 6:25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
This was Jesus talking. He told us to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. For me the key word here is seek. It is active. It means we have to do something. If we allow our mind to do what it will do, then it takes over and everything else will try to come first. But Jesus is telling us to take an active role and to go after God.
It can be a challenge, but certainly God is worth the effort, right? Let’s pray for each other that we take on this active role and seek God first.
Prayer
Father, we praise and exalt You. You alone are our King. Help us to take control of our thinking and put You first. You alone are worthy of our first efforts every day. Please forgive us when we get caught up in everything else. Please send us Your grace and Your mercy that we might seek Your kingdom and Your righteousness above all else. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.