Today’s scripture: Matthew 22:34-40 (ESV-text and audio) (KJV) (The Message) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Tommy Chittenden):
A group of friends went deer hunting and paired off in twos for the day. That night one of the hunters returned alone, staggering under an eight-point buck.
“Where’s Joe?” he was asked.
“Joe had some kind of a stroke. He’s a mile or so back up the trail.”
“You left Joe lying there and carried the deer back?!”
“Well,” said the hunter, “I figured no one was going to steal Joe.”
And there you have it: a perfect case of someone having their priorities askew.
While serving as youth pastor in Atlanta, Georgia, I had the opportunity to serve as chaplain for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at one of the area high schools. I shall never forget the coach of the varsity basketball team who spoke to the FCA youth just hours before his team took the floor to play the number-one team in the State of Georgia for the State Championship. His message to the group was, “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing!”
And there you have it: the perfect solution to how to re-order our life priorities.
What is the “main thing?” Jesus said it is to love God with all our heart, and soul, and mind, and to love our neighbor as we would love our self. Everything hangs (depends) on this. Everything.
When this most amazing “main thing” becomes the guiding principle in our life, our world will never be the same again. Whenever the “present moment” brings a person, place, circumstance or situation before us that appears to be confusing, chaotic, questionable, fearful, or defensive and we remember who we are (Divine Love) we can ask, “What would love do now? How can I ‘be love’ in this moment?” Our amazing internal guidance system will supply the answer, whether we are alone in quiet time or interacting with others.
When our priorities are out of order and we become the “main thing” consciously or unconsciously separating us one from another, the Master cannot be seen in our life and we operate from the power of our own ego rather than stepping into and coming from a place of soulful power. (If you weren’t in worship on July 11, please watch Pastor Jeff’s message, The Gap to get a wonderful understanding of how to better live in soulful power.)
Thought for the day: God, I choose to make loving YOU the main thing in my heart, mind, and soul, and loving others just like I love myself.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.