Putting God First
"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." -Matthew 6:33
One estimate finds more than 4,700 covenant promises listed in the Bible. However, they aren't activated automatically. It's by putting God first that He is able to bless our lives because we have set ourselves apart in our devotion to Him.
Getting to know God doesn't have to become a religious, boxed-in formula. It also doesn't mean that God is a genie or a microwave. But, it does mean that when we put God first in our lives, we are adhering to a divine order that makes our lives function as they should. We receive the supernatural fruits of love, joy and peace in our lives. We are able to experience a supernatural fulfillment that is beyond compare.
Our lives work when there is no one or nothing on the throne of our hearts except God. He is the author and perfecter of our faith. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end (Revelation 1:8). J. John in his book X says of the First Commandment, "it is this commandment that underpins all the others." Often we don't know what it means to put God first in every area. This first commandment to have nothing else come before Him mirrors Jesus' golden rule in the Bible - "Love God, and love your neighbor as yourself." (Luke 10:27)
Putting God first is the simplest, yet most profound thing we can do every day to bring about God's will for our lives. What does putting God first mean to you? Is it waking up early to have a quiet time? Is it worshipping in your car? Is it having a Bible study with a few friends? Is it giving God your best, all the time? It is doing your work as if you were doing it just for Him?
The disciplines of our worship to God will show up on the outside, as "fruit" in our lives. People can tell a difference in us when we've been worshipping, or if we haven't been. We must first invest in the spiritual work before the fruit and God's presence will show up in the natural.
Are you putting God first?
Related resource: TGIF Today God Is First: 4 Minute Meditations to Inspire You at Work, by Os Hillman
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