What is the #1 priority in your life?

One day while Jesus was ministering to the people, he was asked “What is the most important commandment in the law?” He responded, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all they heart, and with all they soul, and with all they mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, thou shalt love they neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (Matt 27:37-40)

My friend, do you have this kind of love in your heart? Consider for a moment the love Jesus has for you. He said “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13) He openly displayed His love for you when He died on the cross. At that moment he took upon himself all of our sin and sickness. In exchange, he makes available to us his righteousness and health. His give is a free gift. This gift is available to you if you want it.

In order to receive this gift, you must determine in your heart that you want it. Many people constantly pursue other things. They desire success, friends, and wealth but find little room for God. Many people go through life with the hope that everything will turn out all right in the end. My friend, you need not go through life merely hoping that everything is OK between you and God, you can make certain that they are!

The Bible says “seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness” (Matt 6:31); and all of your material needs will be taken care of. “No man can serve two masters for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” (Matt 6:24)

Jesus said “lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is there will your heart be also.” (Matt 6:19-23)

The Lord would have us turn to Him, and trust in Him rather than in the riches that surround us. He would have us to find satisfaction in Him rather than continue to try to find it in the things the world offers. He gives us this invitation:

“Ho! everyone who thirsts, come to the waters, and you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and delight yourself in abundance. Incline your ear and come to Me. Listen, that you may live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you” (Isaiah 55:1-3)

Would you like to have peace in your heart? The only thing that can fill the emptiness inside of you is fellowship with the living God. The Lord loves you and desires to have you as a friend. He has already taken the first step by sending his son, Jesus, to bride the gap that has separated you from God. He has done this so that the sin which has been your life can be forgiven, and that you may walk in newness of life with Him. Here’s what you must do in order to obtain new life in Christ:

1. Recognize that you have committed sin.
2. Understand that these things are offensive to God, and, if you do not make amends with Him, they will prevent you from being able to approach Him on friendly terms, and prevent you from entering Heaven.
3. Realize that the only way to be forgiven of these sins is on God’s terms. It can only be done through the price that Jesus Christ paid. Jesus said “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6) This is because we cannot save ourselves, it take Go to do it for us. The Bible tells us: “By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Eph 2:8)
4. Believe the Gospel. Have faith in the redemptive power of the cross, and the ability of God to honor His word. For “God commendeth His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by His blood we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.” (Rom 5:8-11)
5. Turn away from sin. “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his throughs: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” (Isaiah 55:7)
6. The Bible says that as believers, we should confess that Jesus is our Lord. Perhaps it would be good to begin now with this simple prayer: Heavenly father, I am sorry for the sins that I have committed. I want to make things right between you and me. I believe that the price for this was paid by your son Jesus, and that through Him I can have forgiveness of my sins. I believe that you raised Jesus from the dead so that I too could have a future with you in heaven. I make Jesus Lord of my life and place my life in your hands, so that your Holy Spirit may rule and reign in my life to comfort, instruct, encourage, and empower me to live a life that is pleasing to you. I know that with your constant guidance I will be able to live a life that is continually pleasing to you. Thank you for saving me. Amen!

If you already are a Christian, or have just recently become one, we urge you to:

1. Pray and read the Bible regularly; seeking God with all of your heart.

2. Faithfully attend a local church where the Bible is known to be the word of God, and is taught without compromise.