Luke 4:40-43 (NASB)
40 While the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to Jesus; and laying His hands on each one of them, He was healing them. 41 Demons also were coming out of many, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But rebuking them, He would not allow them to speak, because they knew Him to be the Christ.
42 When day came, Jesus left and went to a secluded place; and the crowds were searching for Him, and came to Him and tried to keep Him from going away from them. 43 But He said to them, “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, for I was sent for this purpose.”
Most of the time in most people, they really do not know what is to be prioritized. Jesus knew it! Before everything else, He not only knew His priority, but did it. He made it His importance. He knew He was sent to preach the Kingdom of GOD for us so that we might have it. When He read the scroll, the book of the prophet Isaiah in the synagogue where it was written in Luke 4:18-19;
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor.
He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives,
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set free those who are oppressed,
To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.”…
He made it sure, He will bring it to fulfillment.
It was also obvious that Jesus priority is to preach the Gospel and He wanted us to make this our priority too. Let’s remember the story of the sisters Martha and Maria in Luke 10:38-42.
The Story of Martha and Mary
Now as Jesus disciples were traveling along, Jesus entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.” But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”
Many of us are also Martha, doing everything we thought important. But only one thing is necessary that will lead us to the Kingdom of GOD, and that is; listening to His word. If only all people knew this, church should be filled every Sunday and not the football field or houses during sports games, glued on televisions specially on championship events. Also, not on parties, but every Bible Fellowship should have more attendees. People do not realize that our life on earth is wasted when lived not beyond it. 1 Corinthians 15:19 says, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.”
This world will pass away, but we spent it not according to the divine purpose of GOD. 1 John 2:17 says, “ And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” If we spent it without listening to the Word, then we will loose everything at the end. Job who is one who richly blessed of material things in the Old Testament said “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return there. (Job 1:21)
But it doesn’t mean that we will be materially poor if we choose to live what is important; listening to His word. We should only set things what is first in our priorities, and do it. Jesus did not totally set aside healing, raising the dead, driving out demons. He did not stop doing miracles. He continued to do it, but only He did it as part of His very important mission: to bring salvation to us by giving us His word that gives Eternal Life. In fact, Job after conversing and listening to GOD, HE doubled his material possessions. He gain also the double inheritance; material and spiritual gains he both acquired. It will be the same for us as well if we knew and do what Jesus told us. He promised this: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” ( Matthew 6:33) ‘ALL’ means all the things you need (not all you want) to live in this world. Matthew 6:25-34 mentioned all the things you need will be supplied to you in abundance, but ‘IF’ you give the Kingdom of GOD and His righteousness as your priority.
Remember Christ’s words: “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62). Once we have set following Christ as our top priority, there is no going back. Let’s take the advise in Hebrew 10:36-37.
“ For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:
“For yet a little while,
And He who is coming will come and will not tarry.
Now the just shall live by faith;
But if anyone draws back,
My soul has no pleasure in him.”
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, be wise and take Jesus wisdom to be our wisdom. Set things of the above as our priority. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2) AMEN.
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