When it comes to priorities, what comes to your mind?
Maybe your car is on E so it needs gas, need to go to the grocery store? Or is it your work?
Do your priorities cause you to give up your life?
The priorities that Jesus had sure did cost Him His life.
Mark 10:45 reads,
[45] For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.
And also
John 3:17
[17] For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.
Another question if I may, would you lay down your life for the world, specifically your child? It’s what God did so would you do the same?
Just a heads up, even if we were to lay ourselves on a cross just as Jesus did, it holds zero significance. We have our faith in Jesus and His death gives us life, but the faith our children have in us, means absolutely nothing compared to if they had that same faith in Christ.
Matthew 16:24
[24] Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
But what does that mean to deny yourself?
Let me follow up once again if I may, what is your usual morning routine?
Bathroom? Coffee? Your cell phone?
If the cell phone seemed like it was speaking to you, I am not coming after you, but mostly myself, I learned that the hard way that my phone was in my way of my walk with Jesus.
But it ought not to be that way. But what exactly about that cell phone?
Is it social media to get the latest trend? Is it the email from a business partner? Or is it a text message?
For me, it was social media and email. I’m not important anyway, I am nothing but a wretched sinner saved the grace of God offered through my savior, Jesus Christ. So why would I waste my time with that stuff anyways?
But did you know that our cell phones hold zero eternal significance? We came into this world with just our flesh, but when we leave, our flesh goes 6 feet under and our spirit goes to be with the Lord, that is until the great day of the Lord as described in 1 Thessalonians
But I learned that the hard way.
So a little background behind that,
There is typically 5 items on my nightstand, my alarm clock, glasses, Bible, my phone and a couple of books I am reading.
From time to time my son will come into my room and, turn my light on and wake me up telling me, “Dad, it’s time to get up.”
But there was one morning particularly, he came into my room, turned my light on, put my glasses on my face, I am a light sleeper, so that woke me up. And he was just an inch from my face, imagine how petrified I was.
After I sat up though, he was reaching for something else on my nightstand, and I was hoping it was my Bible. But it wasn’t, it was my cell phone. I tell you though, I am ashamed to say that.
But without telling me, he told me, “dad, you’re going the wrong way with things and your priorities are off.”
Jeremiah 29:13
[13] You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.
But was I seeking Jesus with my whole heart?
No, I was seeking the world wholeheartedly, putting Jesus 2nd.
Matthew 6:33
[33] But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
When prioritizing certain things or perhaps, anything over God, it puts the world first. What did it result in? Not things of God, that’s for sure. Believe me though, I am very guilty of that.
1 Timothy 4:7-8
[7] Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness;
[8] for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
Put priority on God, spend time in His word, and truly seek Him and you will overtime strengthen your godly disciplines.
It is easy? No, it’s not something that the flesh wants to do.
But then, I come back to Matthew 16:24 I have wrote it already, but for the sake of not having to scroll up,
[24] Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
Denying yourself.
What is a desire of the flesh? To follow the world!
But if we belong to Jesus, what is it we ought to do?
Easier said than done, put Him first in everything we do.
There’s even days my son will say “Dad, come play with me” and I tell him “No, not right now, God comes first. I need my time with God”
If we don’t, it teaches our children that God doesn’t have to be number 1.
If our kids see that our secular life is priority over our faith walk, they’ll see that it’s ok to choose the world.
And when the times for them to make the decision on their own, to follow Jesus, what will they do? They will probably reject Jesus, reject the eternal life that Jesus offers us when He sacrificed Himself on that cross 2 thousand years ago.
So when your child dies, and they will as outlined in Hebrews 9:27 they won’t live.
Hebrews 9:27
[27] And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgement.
As we all know, children learn best from their parents. My son will learn from me before he learns from the ladies in the kids ministry, my son will learn from me before he learns from his grandparents, my son will learn from me before he learns from the school he’ll be going to soon.
So let me ask, will you lay down your secular life and choose God first?
Will you set the example? As parents, that is what we need to do, set the example. Show our kids that Jesus needs to be first in all that we do. Everything.
So then, after that time comes and your child has chosen to follow Jesus, and they enter into eternity, Jesus will welcome them with open arms! Isn’t that what we all want? Our children because we set the example, chose to follow Jesus, which our influence of our faith walk inspired our children to live for Jesus so then they also receive eternal life that Jesus offers us because of what He did.
Set that example. Prioritize Jesus. And live for Jesus.