First Among Many Firsts

Daily Reading: Matthew 19

But many who are first will be last, and the last first. (Matthew 19.30)

Devotional Thought: A very wealthy and influential man came to Jesus seeking spiritual peace, but he wanted it on his own terms.  Jesus did not mince words when he told the young man that if he was serious about following him, he would sell everything and just do it.  In his day, just as in ours, Jesus had to deal with the prevailing attitude of competition and consumerism.  People tend to put material things over spiritual things.  They also tend to put popularity over substance, valuing people's opinions over God's.  But, ultimately, whose opinion matters?

If I count on myself and please myself, as did the rich young man, I will discover that I don’t have the sufficient resources to make God’s “cut.”  If I count on my relationship with others to make me acceptable to God, I will discover that God isn’t impressed by the number of friends I have on Facebook or followers on Twitter.  If, however, I put God first in my life, I will suddenly discover that God has put me first in his Kingdom!  Not ahead of others, for that would be antithetical to the message of Jesus.  But he puts me first in the sense that I am right up there with everyone else as a recipient of God’s overwhelming grace.  I am "First Among Many Firsts."

Let’s count on God and put him first!  After all, he has made each one of us "First."

Prayer: Lord, it is not my desire to be in front of or better than anyone else.  I simply want to be the best that I can be by your grace.  I put you first in my life and pray that you would make me what you want me to be.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 92.10-15

10 But you have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox; you have poured over mefresh oil. 11 My eyes have seen the downfall of my enemies; my ears have heard the doom of my evil assailants. 12 The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 13 They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. 14 They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, 15 to declare that the Lord is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.