Topic: The Password Called “Priority” [Tony Evans Ministry 7 February 2020]
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For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body. – (1 Corinthians 6:20)
When you look around at the Christian community today, you frequently see chaos. Marriages are falling apart; singles are struggling to be content. Debt rules. Addictions run amuck. And yet so many people are faithfully in church, leaving many to conclude, “My Christianity is just not working.” They are worn out, lonely, miserable, and frustrated, to say the least.
Many have come to conclude that either this thing called Christianity is not real, or it is simply not real for them. However, there is a reason why so many well-intentioned believers are falling short of God’s best in their lives. This is because without the password called “priority,” they cannot access all that God has in store for them. The way that you express priority is through surrender.
If you have a smartphone, it is likely that you have a password restriction on it so if you inadvertently left it somewhere, a stranger—or a friend—couldn’t pick it up and take advantage of the personal information. Passwords are often critical to the whole process called access, and the password for victorious kingdom living is this word: first.
When you place God first in your life, you will be granted the access to the rightful blessings, authority, and provision that He has in store for you. He will meet your needs and satisfy your desires. But His standard as King cannot be lowered. His position as first cannot be altered, or else that would cheapen Him, and He is not cheap. Salvation may be free, but it cost Jesus Christ a dear price. It was not cheap.
Reflection: When you think of God’s blessings, are you tempted to think in terms of “wish fulfillment”? What blessings have all of us received in Christ? What blessings have you personally received? Thank God for two or three of these.Thank You, Jesus, for Your sacrifice. Thank You for the cost of Your life so that I could also know eternal life. Show me where I am not putting You first so that I can change these things to honor You.