Put God first in all things

2018-08-01
Matthew 6:33 NKJV

Until the sixteenth century, scientists believed the earth was the center of the universe and the sun revolved around it. Then an astronomer called Copernicus came along and argued that the sun didn’t revolve around the earth, the earth revolved around the sun. In so doing, he revolutionized the scientific world forever. And when it comes to discipleship, Jesus did the same thing: “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” At its core, sinfulness is selfishness. It’s enthroning yourself – your desires, your needs, your plans – above all else. You may still seek God, but you don’t seek Him “first.” Instead of trying to fulfill His purposes, you try to get Him to fulfill yours. Who’s following who? Instead of following Jesus, you’re trying to get Him to follow you. It doesn’t work that way. “Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it'” (Matthew 16:24-25 NKJV). Note the words “loses his life for My sake.” There’s a lot of talk today about “finding yourself.” The way to find yourself – is to seek God. D. L. Moody said, “The world has yet to see what God will do with and for and through and in and by the man or woman who is fully and wholly consecrated to Him.” If you’re willing to surrender yourself to God, there’s no telling what He will do with you.

Soul food: Ezra 6-8; Luke 10:13-24; Ps 78:9-16; Prov 19:24-26

Stel God in alle dinge eerste


Matteus 6:33 NLV

Tot en met die sestiende eeu, het wetenskaplikes geglo dat die aarde die middelpunt van die heelal was en dat die son rondom die aarde gedraai het. Toe het ‘n sterrekundige genaamd Copernicus gekom en gestry dat die son nie om die aarde draai nie, maar dat die aarde om die son draai. Hy het die wetenskap vir ewig gerewolusioneer. Wanneer dit by dissipelskap kom, het Jesus dieselfde ding gedoen. ‘…maak die koningsheerskappy van God en dit wat voor Hom reg is, julle heel eerste prioriteit; dan sal God vir julle al hierdie ander dinge as ‘n bonus byvoeg.’ Sondigheid is in wese selfsugtigheid. Dis om jouself op ‘n troon te plaas, om jou begeertes, behoeftes en planne bo alles anders te stel. Jy mag dalk steeds vir God soek, maar jy soek Hom nie eerste nie. In plaas van om te probeer om sy doelwitte te vervul, probeer jy Hom sover kry om joune te vervul. Wie volg wie dan? “Jesus het toe vir sy dissipels gesê: ‘As julle my volgelinge wil wees, moet julle julle eie, selfsugtige ambisie prysgee, julle kruis op julle skouers neem, en agter My aankom. As julle probeer om julle lewe vir julleself te bewaar, sal julle dit verloor. Maar as julle julle lewe ter wille van My prysgee, sal julle ware lewe vind'” (Matteus 16:24-25 NLV). D.L. Moody het gesê, ‘Die wêreld het nog nie gesien wat God met, vir, deur en in die man of vrou sal doen wat volledig en geheel en al aan Hom gewy is nie.’ As jy bereid is om jouself aan God oor te gee, is daar geen perke aan dit wat Hy met jou sal doen nie.

Sielskos: Esra 6-8; Luk 10:13-24; Ps 78:9-16; Spr 19:24-26