Being saved from our sins and being a Christian is flat-out awesome! We’ve discussed some truths in these notes that can lead to saving knowledge, faith and obedience. But, once a person is a Christian, what do they need to do to keep serving God acceptably? That’s what I want to consider for the rest of these notes. Now, I have something else that I hope you will truly consider, take to heart and keep with you for the rest of your life.
Tune your heart to this: Prioritize the will, work, worship and family of God in your life now! The priorities that you set now will impact the rest of your life. If something is not a priority for you now, it will be harder to make it a priority later. Living as a Christian is a life of priorities.
Set the will of God as a priority in your life now! Very few people learn to do this right, because they want to follow their own will instead of God’s. Jesus said, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself…For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it” (Lk. 9:23-24). You remember that Jesus Himself prayed, “Not My will, but Yours, be done” (Lk. 22:42). So, when we make plans and priorities, we need to start by saying, “If the Lord wills, we shall…do this or that” (Jas. 4:15).
Set the work of God as a priority in your life now! Our lives fill up with so many other tasks, duties and plans, that sometimes the real reason we are on this earth (to serve God) is pushed to the side and even left behind. That must not happen! The working of righteousness must be first in our lives (Acts 10:35; Matt. 6:33)—not just on Sundays but every day! God commands us to “be steadfast, immovable, always abounding” in His work (1 Cor. 15:58). That’s not His dream for us! That’s His command! That’s our purpose!
Set the worship of God as a priority in your life now! One of the highest privileges given to God’s people is the opportunity to worship Him! Seeing that our sins mar our relationship with God, it is a wonder that He even allows us to approach Him and to enter His presence! But, He does! He not only allows it (Psa. 122:1), He commands it (Mt. 4:10; Jn. 4:24). As both a privilege and an obligation, this needs to have the highest priority on our “to-do lists” (Matt. 6:33)!
Set the family of God as a priority in your life now! When Jesus instructed us to “seek first the kingdom of God” (Matt. 6:33), He was not just talking about the institution or the work or the worship of the kingdom/church. He was talking about the people! God’s family must have priority in our lives (Gal. 6:10; Jas. 1:27; Phil. 2:3-4; Rom. 12:9-16).
Priorities: Let God set yours! You’ll be glad you did!