GOD MUST BE FIRST

 

 

Why must God be first in our lives? Because he loves us and proved it by dying for us, even when we hated Him:

·       Romans 5:8–10 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

How? We put God first by putting His Word first:

·       John 14:21–24 “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.

Consequently, we belong to Him! Father and Son have the same Word (Another indication of the Trinity!)

·       Joshua 1:7–8 “Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”

However, Israel sinned. Achan took booty from the defeated Jericho contrary to the Word of God, resulting with Israel’s defeat at Ai:

·       Joshua 7:10-12 The LORD said to Joshua, “Get up! Why have you fallen on your face? Israel has sinned; they have transgressed my covenant that I commanded them; they have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen and lied and put them among their own belongings. Therefore the people cannot stand against their enemies…”

Achan’s sin was also Israel’s. We reap the consequences of others’ sins. Christ must be first in all things, whether for the church or for the individual:

·       Matthew 10:37–39 “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

Putting Him first brings blessings:

·       Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

It was a delight, even for the Messiah, to put the Father first:

·       Isaiah 11:3 And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear,

It should also become our delight, while willful sin tells God, “I can run my life better than You can.” However, to be in step with our Lord is peace:

·     1 Peter 4:1–4 Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from [willful] sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. [What does this commitment look like?] For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you;

o   James 3:2 For we all stumble in many ways. (1 John 1:10)

 Wisdom makes Christ Lord of our lives. It is the way of peace:

·       James 3:13–18 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.