1 John 5:19–21 (NKJV) — 19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. 20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. 21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
What is an idol? Anything we put before God!
Put God First!
How do we put God first in our lives?
- Spend time with God daily. Set aside time when it is just you and God. Just bask in His glory and love. Allow God to speak to you. Meditate on your relationship with God.
- Spend time in God’s Word. It may be as simple as John 11:35 or as complex as Psalm 119. Read God’s Word. Memorize God’s Word…this is the most difficult thing for me. Memorization is difficult. But, I work on it daily.
- Pray…Allow God to speak to you. Prayer is a time set aside to speak to and hear from God. But it is not just a specific time spent with God. It is a continual conversation with God throughout the day.
- Commit yourself to God. Commit your time to God. Commit your priorities to God. DON’T ALLOW THINGS OF THIS WORLD TO KEEP YOU FROM CORPORATE WORSHIP WITH OTHER FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST! Prioritize your time with God. This means making sure God is number one in your life. And yes, I do believe the church plays a major role in our commitment to God.
- Be grateful for the small things God brings into your life.
- Love others…this is not always easy. It may be you who others are having a difficult time loving. Could it be the first person we need to learn to love is ourselves?
- Don’t compromise your faith for the things of this world. 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.”
- Focus on eternity.
- Share your faith with others! This is not always easy but essential.