Prioritize the Word

³³ But seek (^[a]aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (^[b]His way of doing and being right), and then all these things ^[c]taken together will be given you besides.

Previous posts (4/21 and 5/21) have focused on the importance of making the Word of God real in the lives of our children and grandchildren. Without giving them a working knowledge of the Word, we leave them, if not defenseless, severely compromised to meet the challenges of the world in which they live. If the Word of God could be put into a wrapped package, the bow which would complete the wrapping and hold the package together would be the “prioritizing of the Word.” That takes a quality decision on our part to make that happen.

Just the thought of making that decision can cause those affected by a religious spirit to break out in a cold sweat. This is because religion is about working to get God’s attention. Who would ever have the time to make the Word first place in their lives in the world we live in today? The good news is that Christianity is not about religion, but about relationship. Thanks to GRACE, our only contribution to making the Word a priority in our lives is the desire to do so, and then depending on Holy Spirit to help us live it out.

A well-known minister of the gospel recounts that shortly after receiving Jesus into her life, she decided to read through the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) and the book of Acts, three times in thirty days.  She said that at that time it seemed like an impossibility. She had two small children and the family had just moved into a new home, with much unpacking still to be done. She said she was pleasantly surprised to find that at the end of the first day that she had accomplished more than she would have under normal circumstances. And, at the end of thirty days she had not only accomplished her goal, but she had taken care of her kids, gotten the new house in order, and had found time to refinish a number of pieces of furniture.

What took place? GRACE entered the situation as this person made a decision to make God’s Word a priority in her life.  Ephesians 5:15-16 and Colossians 4:5 make a connection between “walking” and “redeeming the time.” When we choose to prioritize God’s Word, we are choosing a path that leads to His Wisdom. “Redeeming” refers to regaining that which was lost. When we follow the path that pursues God through prioritizing His Word, we open the door to regain the time spent in doing that, not in terms of minutes and hours lost, but in daily activities accomplished in the natural. With God you never lose something without gaining something. That’s just the way He is – He is a multiplier not a subtractor.

This experience bears witness to the Truth of God’s Word as found in Matthew 6:33. By making the quality decision this minister of the gospel saw two things happened. Her revelation of God’s Word increased, thereby increasing her “working knowledge of the Word” and she experienced the promise found in Matthew 6:33 – that “all these things would be added” unto her.

Yes, prioritizing the Word takes time. But, if it looks like the time is just not there to spend with Him, think again, because you are giving yourself to the One Who can redeem the time without missing a beat!

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