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?

Hope Priority

 

Hope Priority

Acts 28: ¹⁷ Three days later he called together the local Jewish leaders. When they had assembled, Paul said to them: “My brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or against the customs of our ancestors, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. ¹⁸ They examined me and wanted to release me, because I was not guilty of any crime deserving death. ¹⁹ The Jews objected, so I was compelled to make an appeal to Caesar. I certainly did not intend to bring any charge against my own people. ²⁰ For this reason I have asked to see you and talk with you. It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.”

 

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“Want to go hang out?” were code words from a neighbor that meant let’s get drunk and possibly have sex with a stranger. I said “No thanks” this time. He asked again the next week a little more persistently. I said “I’m trying to get my life together with GOD this time.”

 

• There were times when I used pleasure as my hope.
• There were times when I used money as my hope.
• There were times when I used power as my hope.

 

Paul called the local church leaders together and explained his plight. He wanted to appeal rationally to this group in hopes that they would believe in JESUS. He placed his hope in GOD over being free.

 

• GOD wants me to place my hope in HIM.
• GOD wants me to make HIM my priority.
• GOD wants me to choose hope in HIM over anything else.

 

When GOD says “I will reward you” I can place my hope in this. I mean, I have to have total trust that GOD will do just as HE says. HE also says things I do not want to do like “Love those who hate you.”

 

When I place my hope in GOD, I can say “No” to things that will not please HIM. The things that please GOD become my priority. I am honored to place my hope in GOD.

 

• What is your priority?
• Are you focused on controlling all your situations?
• Will you live your life with the purpose of GOD so you will use hope in JESUS to make your decisions?

Priority

Priority

Acts 8: ²⁶ Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is desert. ²⁷ So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, ²⁸ was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet.

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“Take out the garbage” was the directive given to me. “Okay” was my response, but I was in the middle of a game with my friends. As the game went on, we got lost in the laughter. Eventually, my friends went home.

I walked past the seething cesspool of garbage and went to bed only to be awoken by the stench in the middle of the night. “I told you to take out the garbage. We cleaned out the refrigerator.”

• There were times when I said I would do something, but made it a low priority.
• There were times when I thought what I was doing was a higher priority.
• There were times when I should have prioritized something but did not and I faced consequence.

Philip was told to go to the desert by an angel of the LORD. He immediately obeyed, not knowing what he would find. He never questioned “How far?” or “How long should I be there?” He just went. When he got there, he met an Ethiopian eunuch who was worshiping the LORD by reading the prophet Isaiah. Philip’s obedience paid off.

• GOD wants me to listen to HIS directives HE gives me.
• GOD wants me to act on what HE says immediately.
• GOD wants me to accept what HE says as an act of obedience.

Acting with immediacy pleases GOD. HE guides by using HIS word and will not go against it. When HE says “Speak to that person about MY SON”, I should do it without hesitance. HE tells me to do things I don’t want to do like “Forgive that person” or “Stop doing that and follow ME.”

Obedience to GOD takes practice. HE wants me to let go of the things I prioritize over the things HE wants me to do. HE wants to be the priority each day. I am grateful GOD wants me to want HIM.

• Are you making GOD a priority?
• Do you make time to listen to HIM each day?
• Will you stop doing what you are doing and allow HIM to send you to who HE wants to send you to today?

Priority of Urgency

Jeremiah 13: ¹⁵ Hear and pay attention,
    do not be arrogant,
    for the Lord has spoken.
¹⁶ Give glory to the Lord your God
    before he brings the darkness,
before your feet stumble
    on the darkening hills.
You hope for light,
    but he will turn it to utter darkness
    and change it to deep gloom.

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Filled with fear, my mind went into action. “Run for the bus” was the only thought that came into my mind that I could really act on. The unsavory crowd may or may not have been following me, but I did not want to take any chances because I had snuck out the house to visit someone who lived in a very bad neighborhood.

• Fear makes me think urgently.
• Fear makes me prioritize what is important.
• Fear makes me focus on myself rather than on what is important.

Being totally in the wrong, how was I going to ask GOD for help? I mean I wasn’t supposed to be where I was and now I was in trouble. Fortunately GOD is not like humans. HE did not say to me, “See, that’s what you get for doing wrong!” rather HE opened HIS mighty arms and protected me all the way home.

• GOD desires that I turn to HIM out of trust.
• GOD wants me to look to HIM first before I make any decision.
• GOD wishes that I give HIM glory before my feet stumble on the darkening hills.

Every decision I make should be placed before GOD. As I get older, I realize that I am not as “smart” or “wise” as I once thought of myself. My confidence in myself is low but my trust in GOD has grown. HE has brought me through many storms and HE is faithful to continue. GOD’s grace is truly sufficient.

• Are you making decisions on your own?
• Do you think your decisions are good?
• Can you ask GOD what HE wants you to do or have?
• Will you allow HIM to provide the right answers for you?