Did you ever win any awards as a child; for academics or maybe track? I won first place a few times in golf in high school. I was only an average golfer so the team wasn’t really very good and sometimes our competition wasn’t very good either.
What is first place in your life today? As I mentioned, when I was in high school, I loved golf. I probably loved it more than just about anything else. Later on in life I loved my work and sometimes money. I’ve let a lot of things be the main focus in my life. What about you?
The first commandment is “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3). That means nothing in your life should hold your love and affection more than God does. Is God first in your life? Do you love your own life more than you love God? Do you love your wife more than you love God? Your children? In fact, our love for God should be so great that there is no competition for it, not even the love for your spouse or children (Luke 14:26).
Is there anything in your life that you put before God? I ask you to sincerely search your heart and see if God truly is first in your life. This post has been very challenging to me personally. If you ask me do I love God more than anything else, I would most emphatically say yes.
But if you ask me where do I spend most of my free time, could I honestly say for God? Do I spend more time reading the Bible and praying or watching TV and spending time on social media sites? Do I spend my money on the things of God or for myself? Do I spend my talents honoring God or on things that I want to do?
This has really challenged me and I need to repent and turn away from worldly things and turn toward God. Now I am a Christian so I’m not talking about the need for repentance and saving faith for salvation. God is continually sanctifying true believers and He wants to draw us ever closer to Himself. Is God convicting you of anything right now?
If you are unsaved, do you recognize that you are a sinner? Do you realize that God is not first in your life? Are you trying to please God by your good works? You cannot earn your salvation. It is the free gift from God through the shed blood of Jesus Christ our Lord (Ephesians 2:8-9).
If you have never been born again, please cry out to God to have mercy on you. Repent by turning away from your sins and putting your trust in Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21). Then read your Bible every day and obey what God says in His word (John 14:15).
If you are already a Christian, are you truly putting God first? Is God first in your life? Again, we are not saved by works, but because of our love for God and our appreciation for Jesus’ sacrifice, we should obey God. We should gladly read the Bible, pray without ceasing, help those in need and share our faith with others. Where do you spend your time, your talents and your treasure (Matthew 25:14-30)? Are you truly putting God first in your life? I thought I was, but God has convicted me that I wasn’t truly doing this.
I pray to God that He will draw me ever closer to Him and that He will give me the desire and obedience to follow Jesus Christ fully and completely. I pray that God empties me of myself and fills me with His Holy Spirit. I want to truly live for God and to truly surrender my life fully to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. This is my prayer, what’s yours?