JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is to put God first.

Making God first priority in our lives is the right thing to do because He is worthy of our ultimate allegiance. In the first of the 10 Commandments, the LORD says, “You shall have no other gods before me.” Anything that becomes more important to us than God is an idol.

According to First Corinthians 15:3, the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus is a matter of first importance. Jesus instructed us to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. The first and greatest Commandment in the whole law is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, and soul.

When we put God first, our priorities become aligned with God’s priorities. Our focus turns to the treasures of His kingdom.  Romans 14:17 tells us that the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Putting God first is a Vital Step to a Radiant Faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, we are examining some of God’s purposes for our lives with our 20/20 Insights this week.

Today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on God’s purposes for our lives to love Him first.

In Matthew 22, an expert in the law tested Jesus with this question, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

Jesus replied in verse 37, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.”    

God loved us before we loved Him. He went to extreme measures to show the depth of His love for us in the form of Jesus Christ. His death on the cross was the ultimate expression of love. His grace is offered to us as a gift to be received. This is our first step into a life of loving God first and walking in the path of His commands.   

Focusing on loving God more and more everyday gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com