Priorities (Part Two)

Good morning

Being slightly overcommitted caused me to forget that I was halfway through the two part series called ‘Priorities’ when I started with the Esther series. I don’t know how many have noticed it. Therefore I will complete the ‘Priorities’ series today and continue with the Esther series next time.

If you remember we are discussing Matthew 6:33. “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” The Lord knows us as human beings – our sinful, carnal nature and our natural tendency to first focus on our own interests, in other words our self-centredness. Remember He is our Father and being a father myself I have clear understanding on how He sometimes must feel, since I often had to encourage my children to focus on their responsibilities when it came to work, whether it be schoolwork or chores. If you are a parent, you will probably understand what I am referring to, unless you have the ideal children. A rule in our house is we first finish our schoolwork and chores and then we relax and play, and if I read the Bible correctly it is the Lord’s household rule as well.

How many of us, however, are so busy with our own interests that we never get to the Lord’s work. We just quickly read a few verses from the Bible or a daily reading and say a prayer and off we rush into our busy daily schedule. I have discovered that the Lord has something for us to do in His Kingdom, on top of our intimate relationship with Him. This is not only a once a month or once every few months responsibility at the local church. It is not even a weekly chore at the Sunday service, but a daily first thing in the morning responsibility. We need to think Kingdom needs, pray Kingdom needs and do Kingdom needs.

We have opportunity to share the gospel and encourage others as we live our daily lives in the store during shopping, at work, at a club we are involved with, and so on. We have opportunity to encourage one another, visit people in hospital and in the prisons and so much more. Facebook for example allows us to encourage and equip one another, and so does other social media.

The time to plan this and pray it through is first thing every morning. This is what Jesus did. He wouldn’t have been able to do the miracles and maintain the schedule He did, had He not been in fellowship with His Father during the early hours of each morning.

I often imagine the Lord with His proverbial hands in His hair, shaking His head whilst saying: ‘Henry, what are you doing now? When are you going to learn your lesson and follow my guidance?’ Every time we are frustrated about what our children or other people are up to, we need to remember the LORD probably feels the same about us. He looks at our lack of commitment and wishes He could just get us to give first priority to His needs.

I have been watching Angus Buchan’s program ‘Grass Roots’ and He said two precious things I immediately memorised and stored up in my heart. He said ‘The chief purpose of man is to glorify the LORD and enjoy Him for eternity,’ and he also quoted Saint Augustine who said: ‘Love the LORD with all your heart, and then live as you please.’ In other words, if you love the LORD, His opinion and will shall determine what you do.

We can do what we like and live our lives as we wish once we have done our ‘chores’ for Father God out of love that involves our whole heart.

Lord, help me to give you first priority in my life.

Have a look at the following material on the Sermon on the Mount: Paperback  or E-book.

Also have a look at the work you may become part of HERE. You may also want to look at the Website.

Thank you Lord that your Word went out from your mouth, via your servant’s pen, and it will not return to you empty, but will accomplish what you desire and achieve the purpose for which you sent it.

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