We must ask ourselves: “WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT TO ME?” Many of us are married and have children and grandchildren, it’s important for us to protect and provide for them. Maybe some have “the dream job” and it is very significant to be successful. There could many other things we could put on the list. Let’s see what Jesus thinks, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes…People who are ungodly run after all of those things. Your Father who is in heaven knows that you need them. But LET YOUR FIRST CARE BE FOR GOD’S KINGDOM AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS; and all these other things WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU in addition.” (Matt. 6:25, 32-33) Let’s take a look at how we are doing with putting God first…
According to Barna research:
- More than 30% churchgoers say they have never felt God’s Presence during a service.
- 44% of U.S. adults say that God plays no role whatsoever in their life.
- 70% of all young people who grow up in church leave the church by their 20’s.
- More than 2 million people have left the church every year for the past 7 years.
- 77% of all Americans believe that personal salvation is a result of good works.
- 50% of those in church last Sunday cannot remember a single spiritual insight from that sermon.
Why are we missing it so badly? When Jesus was asked about the most important commandment, He responded with this: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets HANG ON THESE TWO COMMANDMENTS.” (Matt. 22:37-40)
The whole Bible, “hangs” on these two commands “like a door on its hinges”.
If we want to OPEN THE DOOR TO REVEAL THE MEANING OF THE WORD OF GOD, we must first love God with our all and unselfishly love others.
HELP US LORD TO LOVE YOU AND SEEK YOU, FIRST…
-Bill Stockham