Thursday, 2/7/19 – Discipleship: Priorities

Some days when I get home from a good walk, or from driving about on errands, I am eager first thing to visit the washroom! You probably know the feeling.

Yet, urgent as this may be, it is not in such a moment the first thing I will do. Before this priority can be satisfied I must shut the front door, remove backpack and boots, hang jacket and headwear, check the room is not occupied, then wash my soiled hands. Only then can I give what is most important the attention it requires.

Our priorities can often get jumbled by the necessities of life. But the disciple of Christ must keep clearly in focus the things that in God’s eyes are most primary. We must seek His Will above our own.

A key verse regarding this is Matthew 6:33 “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” 

At first, this takes discipline, but soon it becomes habit; eventually it becomes our desire. God transforms us, “renews our minds,” then what Jesus said becomes true in our hearts: “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” (John 15:7). Why? Because our will becomes aligned with God’s will. The things we desire will be the things of the kingdom of God.

Our journey to maturity in Christ is progressive. It requires our diligence and transforms our desires. Consider the steps and goals along the way in the following passages:

“Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation” (1 Pet. 2:2)

“Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly…” (1 Cor. 3:1-3a)

“In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again.” (Heb. 5:12)

“…let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity…” (Heb. 6:1)

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41-42)

“…one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 3:13,14)

“…what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day…” (1 Cor. 15:3,4)

Again, Matthew 6… “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Mart. 6:31-34)

Our Discipleship training manual challenges us to “Make a commitment to base every major decision on Matthew 6:33.” (p.46) When we do this, determining life’s priorities becomes much clearer.

Press on…

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