When it comes to God's Constitution, we should know our priorities. Especially in regard to the world system, and may I add, religious customs and traditions of men. Correct priorities also protect you from making wrong decisions.
As a citizen of the Lord God's government, your first priority is to obey the Word of the living God by reading and studying God's Constitution without reluctance. Once you are aware what your priorities are, decision-making becomes very easy because you understand not only what you should be doing, but also what you should not be doing. This knowledge gives you confidence to say no to requests, even honorable ones that would distract you from your primary focus. Keep in mind, Jesus always knew His priority. Even when His cousin John refused to baptize Him in the Jordan River. Jesus kept to the plan and purpose of His Father. Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?”
But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him. When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Jesus knew the first of His many priorities.
Remember this, every decision that you make, either assists or hinders you in fulfilling God's purpose for your life. This is why it is so important to stay in prayer and read and study His Constitution. Unless you are aware and know your priorities for your life, you have no guidelines to assist you in making correct choices. Settling your heart on God's priority (which is His purpose for your life) will enable you to make the right course and maximize your life's effectiveness. Once Jesus completed that priority, He knew His next challenge that would lead Him to His next priority. Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”
But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”
Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’”
Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’”
Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”
Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’” Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.
It was a step by step process.
I will continue this tomorrow in part 2.
Matthew 13:13-17 Matthew 4:1-11
~~W.R. Luchie
As a citizen of the Lord God's government, your first priority is to obey the Word of the living God by reading and studying God's Constitution without reluctance. Once you are aware what your priorities are, decision-making becomes very easy because you understand not only what you should be doing, but also what you should not be doing. This knowledge gives you confidence to say no to requests, even honorable ones that would distract you from your primary focus. Keep in mind, Jesus always knew His priority. Even when His cousin John refused to baptize Him in the Jordan River. Jesus kept to the plan and purpose of His Father. Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?”
But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him. When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Jesus knew the first of His many priorities.
Remember this, every decision that you make, either assists or hinders you in fulfilling God's purpose for your life. This is why it is so important to stay in prayer and read and study His Constitution. Unless you are aware and know your priorities for your life, you have no guidelines to assist you in making correct choices. Settling your heart on God's priority (which is His purpose for your life) will enable you to make the right course and maximize your life's effectiveness. Once Jesus completed that priority, He knew His next challenge that would lead Him to His next priority. Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”
But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”
Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’”
Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’”
Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”
Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’” Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.
It was a step by step process.
I will continue this tomorrow in part 2.
Matthew 13:13-17 Matthew 4:1-11
~~W.R. Luchie
