| Good morning everyone, Our theme for this month: “Be smart, be strategic” Our Bible verse for today: “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.” Matthew 6:33 (CSB) Our thought for today: “If you want the one, you will have to do the other” So far in our study of being smart and being strategic, I have focused our thinking on the first and most important thing we can be smart and strategic about – our relationship with Jesus. That’s the starting place for a life that is balanced, with our priorities in proper alignment. Jesus has to be on the throne in your heart, and all the rest of life has to revolve around Him. Next week we will move on to other applications of being smart and being strategic, but we have to get this settled first. In Matthew 6:33 Jesus said that if we make the kingdom of God and His righteousness our first priority in life, “all these things” will be provided for us. What “things” was He talking about? He was talking about all the rest of life. I encourage you to take a moment and read that passage, Matthew 6:25-34. It’s commonly known as “the do not worry passage” because in it, Jesus urges us to stop worrying so much about the cares and issues of life, and to focus more on God and His concerns. It’s a comforting and encouraging passage and it reinforces our point about being smart and strategic with respect to how we structure our lives. Put God first and He will then help us to get the rest of life settled and in order. Now, you don’t have to do this. You do not have to be smart and strategic in the ways I’ve been writing about. You can continue living in whatever way you are currently living, giving your first and best attention to whatever other things are most important to you. However, if you want to be living in right relationship with God; if you want your life to be unfolding according to His plan rather than your own; if you want to experience the full blessings of God in your life; then you will have to do this. You will have to really put Him first. Author Annie Dillard once observed, “You don’t have to stand outside in the dark. If, however, you wish to look at the stars, you will find the darkness necessary.” Likewise, you don’t have to wisely and strategically structure your life in such a way that God and His ways are your clear number-one priority. However, if you want the life God wants to give you, then you will have to do that. There’s no getting around it, if you want the one, you will have to do the other. God bless, Pastor Jim |
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