Father, there are so many areas in my life in which I am blessed and Your hand is behind them all. May I never stop giving credit (and praise!) where it is due! Amen.

Matthew 19:27-30 (<<click to read the passage)

Even as children we latch on to the idea of “being first” and all of its rights and privileges. A couple of weeks ago we visited a small restaurant. It was a Friday night and it was quite busy. We were waiting for a table but many others were coming and going with take-out orders. A mother and her young daughter came in for a pick-up order and not too long after they entered another lady stepped in and in that there was not any particular order in which to stand at the entrance, she stepped in front of them. In a matter of seconds the daughter acknowledged the perceived injustice of the act quietly to her mother, “She cut in front of us. We were here first.” Of course, when the order was placed determined who got what when not who arrived first to get their order.

But aren’t we all of that mindset? For example, a lane is closed on the highway and we are directed to merge into one lane. Someone decides to squeeze in at the last possible moment and we are annoyed. “I obeyed the signs. I got over when I was supposed to. I was here first!”

And we do it all the time! But if Jesus were in the same situation would He let it bother Him? Not for one second. So many people are ahead of us or over us or at least they like to make sure we think so. Some get there honestly but unfortunately, others get there under questionable circumstances. Often those who are “first” lord it over us and we feel slighted.

When it comes to the things of this world we can feel excluded, left out, downright last in line. We hold to Biblical truths and are rejected. Because we hold them to be absolute we are disdained for not being tolerant of other viewpoints. We are shoved to the back.

Should this bother us? Should we demand to be accepted? Should we, at all cost, claw our way to the front? Jesus very clearly states in Matthew 19:30, “But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.” NIV

Lord Jesus, may we keep our eyes on You. May we never forget that the things this world deems as important will pass into oblivion and only the things of Your kingdom will pass the test of time, lasting for eternity. Amen.

Aug 21st, 2018, Mon, 9:00 pm