When Christ visited them, they wanted to serve Him in the way each considered was most important. None of their excuses were of themselves wrong. Does that mean its wrong for me to have a job outside my home? Are you coming continually to Him and building your life on Him? Some of you are mothers of preschoolers, but you will not always be mothers of preschoolers. When He created man and put them on earth it was to expand His kingdom, His rulership, and His will on earth. Jesus tells us that God's kingdom and righteousness should be our highest aim. What is wisdom? 4:18; also Phil. Christ stated: If anyone comes to Me and does not hate [love less by comparison] his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. Luke 12:29-31 And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying. In an age when we're bombarded with negative news stories on a 24/7 basis, Pastor Jack Hibbs and Barry Meguiar want people to know they have nothing to fear, because God is greater than fear of the enemy. No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband [first relationship: her husband], and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the saints, helping those in trouble, and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds (NIV). To be led by the will of God is to embody the character of Godto become like God. First of all, her characterher character and her relationship with God. Third, are you seeking to proclaim His excellencies to those in darkness, that they, too, may come to know the Savior? I'm interested in bringing training to my church: I'm interested in leading training for a small group: Launch Partnership: Start a Counseling Ministry in your Church. Learn how your comment data is processed. We come to Him and commune with Him daily, building everything in our lives on who He is and on what He has provided for us in His death and resurrection. Copyright 1992, Steven J. Cole, All Rights Reserved. Scattered into the world, we proclaim Gods mercy and light to those who are still in the darkness. Setting priorities will allow you to differentiate between serious obstacles and obstacles that are easily fixed. How Do I Prioritize My Busy Life? | Desiring God He makes them feel good about themselves. Christian priority No. An Opportunity:To get more helpful, hope-filled resources and encouragement, please subscribe to Biblical Counseling Centers Mended Lives blog. The cross humbles human pride. We have to be honest with ourselves. They worked hard for the Lord. Christ taught His followers to pray often that Gods Kingdom be established, and that Your [the Fathers] will be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10). The petition condemned the event as an assault on religious beliefs and A four-day revival event held last fall at the Old Zion Baptist Church has turned into a remarkable journey of faith that shows no signs of slowing down. He planted vineyards, orchards and gardens. Now, that doesnt mean you go home and get rid of your children. The fountain of all of life. Morning Rundown: 7 Miraculous Benefits of Praying in Tongues. I thought you might enjoy this story: It all began when the dental hygienist, who was scraping tartar off my teeth, asked, Do you spend about four minutes each time you brush your teeth? With a gurgling tube hanging from my lip, I responded, A liddle lessth than that.. Finally. Since 1979, the Lord has opened the television airwaves to the Answers program, whichcurrentlyairs each week in more than 100 nations around the world. I'm interested in biblical counseling training: By submitting the form, you're opting in to emails from BCC. By definition, only one thing can be first. We are passionate about helping hurting people. Now, in the time we have today, I want to focus on one particular season of life because so many women are in this season of life. The best thing is the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ (Philippians 3:8). Nancy Leigh DeMoss: Freedom in life comes from fulfilling the job description that has been assigned to me. Well take on that question tomorrow, on Revive Our Hearts. To believe in Christ, I must let go of my own works as the means of my salvation. Download: Get thisfree download that helps you determine and set your priorities. Thus he closes this first major section of his letter by showing that our salvation must be lived out by being built upon Christ, in Christian community, with witness to the world: Gods people must keep God central, be built together as His people, and proclaim His excellencies to others. I was thinking through different passages in the Scripture that talk about what is first or what is principle or what is the one thing. Ask Him for wisdom. That change may be some of the carburetor adjustments were going to talk about over the next several days. It would be great to think that everyone who doesnt know God would be responsive--just waiting to hear and believe. This isn't achieved through passivity; Matthew 6:33 uses the word "seek," which implies activity and persistence. He stockpiled gold, silver and other treasures. 10 Classic Hymns You Might Remember and Why They're Important. But Christ is not just the stone on which you can build everything in life. You can make a difference by seeking purity in word, action, and thought. Unlike his father, who was a warrior, he enjoyed national peace during his 40-year reign. Anna Helgen,co-pastor at Edina Community Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, led the congregation in the America's founding has been called the "great experiment" in human government because it was an experiment in self-government. Season: First Things First Leslie Basham: Are you doing the tasks God has given you today? He bought cattle and livestock, hired servants, singers, musicians and entertainers. If so, is He central in your life? The key word in Ecclesiastes is vanity, used over 30 times in the King James Version in only 12 short chapters. This is actually a curriculum for young women. Many A Lutheran minister has sparked controversy and captured public attention with a recitation of a heretical "Sparkle Creed" during a recent church service. Your email address will not be published. And then they wonder why their life isnt what it should be and why their Christian walk is empty. Let's see what we discover. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Now, rather than go into all of that in detail, just look at the set of priorities there. Help at a church work day? They also point to widespread abuse of signs and YouVersion, the popular mobile Bible app, has unveiled a new offline app called Bible App Lite, enabling millions of people to access the Word of God without an internet connection. (Philippians 3:13-14 NIV). Be very careful, then, how you livenot as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. I looked it up this morning. These are noble priorities Worship, growing spiritually, sharing our faith, being ready for Christ to come and making Jesus the priority of our life. The word earnest literally means superabundant, excessive, and frequent. You and I need to give superabundant, excessive, and frequent heed to the Word of God which we have heard. His ivory throne was covered with gold and featured 12 lion statues on six steps leading up to it (1 Kings 10:18-20). But others will reject Him and you. Often Jesus is marketed as a nice, non-judgmental man who wouldnt upset anyone, who will meet a persons every need and desire. You shall have no other gods before Me (Exodus 20:2-3). Thank you so much. And yet the Lord said, But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Love for Christ must be central! We should live according to Gods will as it is expressed in His Word (Eccl. Get your free "4 Reasons Why Lay Counseling Is Effective" Resource! 12 Bible Verses about Priorities In Life - Online Bible That is probably the rarest phenomena in the political history of the world; this has Conservative commentator and radio talk show host Todd Starnes says YouTube has permanently shut down his account. We need not go through any human priest. You can hear the entire series at ReviveOurHearts.com. Physical things cannot replace our need for spiritual communion with our Creator. God wants you and I to realize how incredibly important it is for us to stay focused on what we have learned from the Scriptures! Leslie: Thats an important question from Nancy Leigh DeMoss in the series First Things First. Skip church today, and prove to your neighbor you love her. This site is a proud member of the Salem Web Network, a subsidiary of, Copyright 2023, Crosswalk.com. First and foremost, have you truly believed in Christ as Savior and Lord? Then they are to be homemakersgood, obedient to their husbands that the Word of God may not be blasphemed. The supremacy of Christ. He had position, power and prestige. 19:6); a people for Gods possession (Exod. Her husband comes before her children. Remember Christs words: No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God (Luke 9:62). Origin: Where did we come from? What am I supposed to be doing with my life? And His commandments are not burdensome (1 John 5:3). He pursued pleasure, recreation and architecture (spending seven years building the Temple and 13 years building his own palace1 Kings 6:38; 7:1). When my relationship with God is in order, other things will be in order. We have, as weve already said, different marital status. He will someday be glorified in His saving His elect and in justly condemning the reprobate. God brings out the best in us when we . The first commandment. He must come first in our lives. Husbands, children, and then the household. Do you work with our young people? BCC StaffJune 2, 2015For Those Giving Help, For Those Seeking HopeLeave a Comment. Once we have set following Christ as our top priority, there is no going back (Hebrews 10:37-39). When is the last time you had a facial? the cosmetologist asked. It all came crashing down one night when I was reading an article entitled: Are You Endangering the Lives of Your Loved Ones by Failing to Dust Your Smoke Alarms Regularly?, I ran to the refrigerator and tore the schedules to shreds. Its so important that we go to the Manual for Life to find out our job description. Job chapter 23, verse 12, Job said, I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food. You want to fulfill that number one priority in life? And Jesus answered and said to her, Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. We shouldnt blast people with Gods judgment. Pre-eminence. This app, specifically designed for users in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia, Google recently removed a "Pride and Drag Show" from its list of company-promoted LGBTQ events in response to a petition signed by hundreds of Christian employees and other supporters. In both classical and biblical culturescivilizations that have been so deeply formative to our ownpeople well understood there to be a direct association between the character of individuals and the well-being of the society as a whole. This relates to all you do in your Christian life. Is it wrong to sell Jesus to lost people? Revive Our Hearts, an outreach of 2:17). Romans 12:1 tells us to offer our bodies as living sacrifices to God. One thing is absolutely necessary and that is your relationship with Me (Luke 10:22, paraphrased). If you constantly look to other people for answers and validation, pray about this and ask the Lord to help you stop doing that and instead look to Him. The Bible catalogs Solomons greatness and excess: There is a big difference between having wisdom and being wise. Look at 1 Timothy chapter 5, verses 9 and 10. Second, are you seeking to be built together with His people or do you just attend church? He had 40,000 stalls of horses, 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen (1 Kings 4:26, 10:26). If youre not doing that, that's the place to start. Man was separated from God. Checklist! They had persevered through trials and had not grown weary. Proverbs chapter 4, verse 7: Wisdom is the principle thing; therefore get wisdom. Where does wisdom come from? If our devotion for Him is lacking, were just playing church. The kingdom of God is not a priority in their life. By submitting the form, you're opting in to marketing emails from BCC. Life can be hectic. This is what Jesus prayed in Matthew 6:10, let your kingdom come and your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 2 Peter 3: 8 says, But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. Frustration comes from trying to fulfill someone else's job description. Finally, would you give to Revive Our Hearts? Titus chapter 2, verses 4 and 5. Read Luke 9:57-62. But having said that, we must remember that the biblical Christ is going to offend many people, for at least two reasons: First, the cross of Christ is offensive (1 Cor. Yet when you boil it all down, you take that passage and you kind of put it into categories, its really not quite as complex as it sounds. All these terms come from the Old Testament: A chosen race (Isa. Gathered as the church, we worship our great God by proclaiming His excellencies to one another and we build up one another. All that list of things she doestheyre all really just fulfilling these priorities. 8:5 --- Giving of Self) In the beginning God created man and gave him dominion in all the earth to help accomplish His top priority. When I do weddings, I usually explain that marriage is like a triangle, with God at the apex and the partners at the other two points. But in this instance priorities were an issue. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. That's the offering God really wants. Solomon wrote Ecclesiastes, which means teacher or preacher, as an aged man reflecting on his life experiences. Ultimately, this led to Solomons spiritual downfallFor when Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart away after other gods, and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God as the heart of David his father had been (1 Kings 11:4). If you proclaim Christ crucified and Christ as Lord, some will believe and be saved. Article Images Copyright , Banish the Unofficial Luggage of Foster Care, Reconstructing Christianity Instead of Deconstructing, How to Find Biblical Joy When You Face Life Changes, California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 1:23). So its good to be reminded occasionally of our priorities as Gods people. What would you discover if you got a weekly printout on how you spend your time each day? The purpose of life is to live a life of purpose for Gods glory and our fellow mans good. Through his daily audio and written devotional Bible teaching, Pastor Rick shares the hope of Christ and the biblical truths people need to fulfill God's purposes for their life. So related to year-end giving, what priorities should we follow? Frustration comes from trying to fulfill someone elses job description. Wisdom is knowing the right things; being wise is doing the right things. If Im too busy to cultivate my relationship with God by the means of grace God has provided for me, then Im too busy. Destiny: Where are we going? We are foreigners in this land called earth. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of Gods grace in its various forms. 1. Reprioritize: Developing Apostolic Priorities (2 Timothy 1:1-7) The head of all things. Whatever you do should be done as a sacrifice to Christ. Jesus said this to Marys sister, Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but one thing is necessary. Then be sure that you aregiving to your local church. Solomon wrestled with and answered four key questions on the meaning of life: Solomon discovered that none of these questions can be answered satisfactorily without God. There is a phrase that comes up over and over again in the Bible, in both the Old Testament and the New Testament, that lets us know when God is saying, Hey, whats coming up is especially important.. Paul's orders or apostolic mission was "to further the promise of life in Christ Jesus.". But the dissonance of the term should grab our attention. His desire is that we worship Him and Him alone. Morality: How should we live? The Bible catalogs Solomon's greatness and excess: He was a king, judge, builder, author, poet, singer, teacher, lover . In response to what Jesus had done in his life he said, One thing I know: I was blind, but now I can see. (John 9:25). You may need to commit yourself to this local church. She has a relationship with God. He became the greatest and richest king in world history (1 Kings 10:23). What does Peter mean when he says that unbelievers stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this they were also appointed (2:8)? Through her writing, podcasts, read more , 20012023 Everything you do should be a thank offering to Christ. He visited the tabernacle in Gibeon, where he encountered God and requested and received unrivaled wisdom (1 Kings 3). Making excuses will always be an option, just not a good one. 1:3), God has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness. Christ is our sufficiency. The Bible helps us determine proper priorities and planning. Finally, his spiritual decline and disappointment with life led him to despair: And I began to hate life for the labor that was done under the sun was contemptible to me, for all of this was vanity and chasing the wind (Eccl. 4) The priority of being ready for the return of Jesus. He is a living stone. All rights reserved. Is Accepting Jesus All to Becoming a Christian? BUT God had a plan to restore man back to Him and for man to regain his place of authority and for the kingdom of heaven to come on the earth. There, you can stream the audio. These are noble priorities - Worship, growing spiritually, sharing our faith, being ready for Christ to come and making Jesus the priority of our life. Solomon, by his own admission, had it all, saw it all and did it allbut it all left him empty (Eccl. The tone is rather pessimistic and depressing because he realized and regretted the folly of pursuing selfish goals. You can order the CD, or subscribe to the podcast. So I counsel younger widows to marry [husband], to have children [children], to manage their homes [their household] and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander (NIV). Is it wrong to stay with a father until he dies or to devote an extended period of time to saying farewell to family members? Giving the right opinion of God should be the first thing we think of when setting priorities or planning out our week. We are to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom and help build the kingdom of God. June 9, 2021 Matthew 6:31-33 What is the priority of your lifethe one thing around which everything else revolves?