Blake Allen, Campus Pastor, Living Hope Dunbar Cave
Matthew 28:18-20
18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[b] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
Are you tired? I don’t know about you but with a full-time job, school, two kids, and other responsibilities, by the end of the day I am wiped! Our schedules are busy. Our plates are full. I believe busyness defines our days. But I also believe busyness can also be an excuse to not do the things that really matter. If we are honest with ourselves, time is not the main issue. The main issue is our priorities.
Our time goes somewhere and we choose to fill it. Usually, we fill it with the things that matter to us. It is like going on a vacation. Surely, you are going to pack the car with the stuff that matters first. Everything else can be left behind if there is no more room in the car. As long as you got the most important things the vacation will be more pleasurable.
What is important to us? The most important thing we can do is build God’s kingdom. The Great Commission should be a priority in every believer’s life. Jesus has given all believers the charge of making disciples. This command is reiterated all throughout Scripture. In fact, Jesus’ last words to his disciples before His ascension was that His disciples would be His witnesses all throughout the world (Acts 1). There is much work to be done. There are souls to be won, addictions to be broken, wounds to be binded, hearts to be encouraged, relationships to be restored, etc. This takes intentionality. This takes time. This takes effort. This takes energy. And with everything on our plate, how much energy do we have to commit to the Great Commission? Enough if we truly believe God and His word is a priority.
With everything on our plate, we can easily feel more than overwhelmed. Our sight becomes fixated on all we have to get done. We see the tasks. We see the mountain of stuff that just keeps piling up. We see the responsibilities. We see the obligations. We see the schedules. We see the battles. We see the to dos. We see the timelines. And with everything piled up, what will we give priority to? In the face of it all, God tells us in His word to seek Him above all things and everything else will be added (Matt 6:33). He is with us in all things (Matt 28:20). Give priority to the things of God and watch how He uses it for His kingdom and His glory.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Dear Heavenly Father, my life is in your hands. Use me to build your kingdom and help me to keep you first in all things.. Amen!
James 1:12- 12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him