First Place

Jonathan here to encourage you all to keep God first.

when we become a Christian, first place is no longer our position to hold; it belongs to God. Giving God first place in our lives began on the day of our salvation, but allowing God to remain first in all areas of our life is an ongoing process. When we do so, we live a fulfilled and blessed life in Christ here on earth, and inherit an eternal life of unspeakable blessings with God in Heaven forever. "Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. I Corinthians 9:25" Now, keeping God in first places a challenge for us all. therefore, the obvious question is. How do we keep Him there?

 Truly understanding how God sees us begins with how we see Him. God is not watching from a distance just waiting for us to make a mistake in order to punish us. Nothing could be further from the truth. Consider what this verse says: "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become the children of God - children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God." John 1:12-13 God sees each of us as His own precious child. He is a loving Father showering favor and care to us out of His endless compassion.

God sees each of His children in a profoundly different way than most of us see ourselves. Understanding how God sees each one of us is founded upon the work that Christ began in our lives the moment we received salvation. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come." II Corinthians 5:17 "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." II Corinthians 5:21 This new creation is God’s divine work; a complete transformation of our spiritual condition and inner person. He has completely forgiven and cleansed us from our sin - past, present and future. We are in right relationship with Him. "…as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions (sins) from us." Psalm 103: 12 We are God’s people presented to Him without any blemish of sin; truly as His righteousness through the work that Jesus did on the cross. God has indeed given us first place in His heart! and We would be wise to remember it.