Priorities

Priorities

Revelation 22: ¹² “Listen!” says Jesus. “I am coming soon! I will bring my rewards with me, to give to each one according to what he has done. ¹³ I am the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”

 

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When the new leader arrived, we were asked “What are the problems you are facing?” We gave a list of thing, large and small. Each of us were assigned to deal with various problems. When the year was up, we were rewarded for our accomplishments.

 

• We had no time for frivolous activities.
• We had to focus on the main problems and develop action plans to address them.
• After we fixed many problems, we received rewards based on what we did.

 

John, the disciple JESUS loved, heard HIM reiterate something important. JESUS said again “Listen!” HE then said “I AM coming soon!” John had just finished a conversation with an angel about what he was writing and after the conversation, JESUS emphasizes HIS return.

 

My Observations:

• JESUS is the first and the last, the beginning and the end.
• JESUS holds all time in HIS hands, so when HE puts emphasis on coming soon, I should listen.
• JESUS will reward me for the service I do in belief in HIS words.

 

When something is said twice, emphatically, it must be important. Once I was working for a company that provided food for first responders of forest fires. As I was taking the food out, I was warned that fire was not in control. They emphasized the danger and would only allow me to go through because food was needed on the front lines. Same with GOD.

 

JESUS emphasizes the need for us to prioritize our lives for HIM. HE has been risen and provided a prophecy of HIS return. Whatever problem we think is a priority, JESUS says, “Listen, I AM coming soon!” I gladly live my life as if today were my last.

 

Challenge

• Why did JESUS emphasize what HE already said to the writer?
• Have you ever been told to do something and did not prioritize it high enough?
• Have you assessed your priorities and aligned them with CHRIST’s so you can do what HE wants versus trying to get HIM to do what you want today?

Importance

Importance

John 17: ⁹ “I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. ¹⁰ And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. ¹¹ Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. ¹² While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. ¹³ But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves.”

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Hearing “No, you cannot stay out that late” made me want to do it all the more. I mean, my friends weren’t “bad” and they were allowed to stay out late. I sat and thought about sneaking out of the house, but could not figure out how I was going to get back in.

• I made, hanging out in the streets, important to me.
• I made, being with the crowd, important to me.
• I made, wanting to party, important to me.

JESUS prays to the FATHER and states what is important to HIM. HE asks to “Keep those given to ME, as one.” He also asks that “They may have joy.” These things are extremely important to GOD.

• JESUS wants me to have unity with others who believe in HIM.
• JESUS wants me to have joy that can only come from HIM.
• JESUS wants me to have and everlasting relationship with HIM.

Health, wealth and happiness are important things to me, but sometimes they get in the way of what is important to GOD. It’s not like GOD doesn’t cat for these things, it’s just that they can be a distraction from what is truly important to GOD.

There is a lot at stake by losing a person forever. I may not have a shirt in the right color or the latest phone, which would sometimes make me pout. BUT GOD would rather I pout over a loved one who does not believe in JESUS as the one and only Savior, who could be lost for eternity. Salvation is important to GOD, and I am slowly making it important to me.

• What is important to you?
• Have you asked GOD what is important to HIM?
• Will you allow GOD to use you for what is important to HIM today?