FIRST THINGS FIRST

FIRST THINGS FIRST

Jesus Christ, “the Author and Finisher of our faith,” admonishes us to “seek first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness.” (Hebrews 12:2 and Matthew 6:33) It is important to note that this is our primary and pivotal entry-point into the Kingdom “highway” as revealed in the Word of God. (Isaiah 35:8) Jesus, Himself, declares that “Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.” (Mark 13:31)

Therefore, our initial thought and activity of each day should be reading and meditating on The Word.  It goes without saying that prayer is also an indispensable prerequisite to processing, understanding and retaining Kingdom truth. (Luke 18:1)

The longest chapter in the Holy Bible is Psalm 119.  Its focus is the centrality of The Word in our covenant and communion with Christ.  I have reprinted selected verses below for your prayerful consideration.

Psalm 119 [Selected Verses]

¹⁰ With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.

¹¹ Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

¹⁶ I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.

¹⁷ Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word.

¹⁸ Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.

²⁴ Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counselors.

³³ Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.

³⁴ Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.

⁴⁹ Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.

⁵⁹ I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.

⁶⁰ I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.

⁶⁶ Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments.

⁷² The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.

⁸⁹ Forever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.

⁹⁰ Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.

⁹⁷ O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.

⁹⁸ Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.

⁹⁹ I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.

¹⁰¹ I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.

¹⁰³ How sweet are thy words unto my taste! Yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

¹⁰⁴ Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.

¹⁰⁵ Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

¹¹¹ Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.

¹¹⁴ Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.

¹²⁵ I am thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies.

¹²⁷ Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold.

¹²⁸ Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.

¹³⁰ The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.

¹³³ Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.

¹³⁷ Righteous art thou, O Lord, and upright are thy judgments.

¹⁴⁰ Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.

¹⁴³ Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: yet thy commandments are my delights.

¹⁴⁴ The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live.

¹⁵⁶ Great are thy tender mercies, O Lord: quicken me according to thy judgments.

¹⁶⁰ Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth forever.

¹⁶⁴ Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments.

¹⁶⁵ Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.

¹⁷² My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.

Sisters and brothers, we must never major-on-minors; we must always major-on-majors…so first things first!  The Word equips and enables us to “walk by faith, not by sight.” (II Corinthians 5:7) Therefore, instead of being deceived and misdirected by our sensory perceptions, we must learn to fully rely on God’s eternal truth.  At the dawning of each day, we will resolve to position The Word of God as our pilot and compass in order to navigate the uncharted seas of unknown life events.  Let’s keep first things first!

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!