Priorities

Our pastor is preaching a series called "Strengthening Your Grip." The series is inspired by the Charles R. Swindoll book "Strengthening Your Grip: Essentials in an Aimless World" which was published in 1982. The topic we discussed on Sunday was priorities and it really hit home with me. I can verbally tell you that my priorities are God, Family, Work... but I am so guilty of not living each day with my priorities in order.

Sunday's scripture passage was from Thessalonians 2:1-13, which is a part of Paul's ministry in Thessalonica -

"2 You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results. ² We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition. ³ For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. ⁴ On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. ⁵ You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed —God is our witness. ⁶ We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostlesof Christ we could have asserted our authority. ⁷ Instead, we were like young children^[a] among you.

Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, ⁸ so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. ⁹ Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. ¹⁰ You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. ¹¹ For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, ¹² encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

¹³ And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe."

He discussed the four priorities for living -

1. Be Biblical (v. 1-4) - Live each day knowing that God has your today, tomorrow and your eternity. Spend time in his word each day, not just reading a verse a day, but really studying his word and applying it to your life.
2. Be Authentic (v. 5-6) - Live each day being the person God has created you to be. Don't hide behind titles, status, masks or faces. Be who you are and be authentic! We are all imperfect - sinners saved by grace.
3. Be Gracious (v. 7-11) - Live each day being compassionate. Don't be selfish with the blessings God has blessed you with and show love to those who you interact with each day.
4. Be Relevant (v. 12-13) - Live each day knowing that God is working in your right now!

Our pastor challenged us to look at our daily priorities. He asked us to look at how we spend our time and how we invest it each day. His words really stirred my heart. Because I am single, I think I take on more than I should so that I "fill" my time up. But I felt as if God was saying "You need to spend some time in my word and let me refocus your priorities." I feel that he is telling me that there are some things in my life that are not a part of his plan and they are causing me to stumble.

I pray that if your priorities are not where they should be that you will spend some time praying about them and write them down so you can review them each day.