Putting First Things First: Living for Jesus with Purpose and Commitment

Summary

This message calls believers to live fully for Jesus rather than allowing lesser priorities to dominate. Drawing from Nehemiah 9-10, it highlights God’s faithfulness, Israel’s repentance, and the importance of intentional commitment. Warning against empty busyness, it urges reflection on whether our use of time, energy, and resources reflects love for God and others. True effectiveness comes from surrendering fully to God and serving Him through Spirit-given passions.

Putting First Things First

As believers, we are on earth to live for Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:15). It is the right and best thing to do. But too often, lesser purposes monopolize our time and attention.

Nehemiah’s Prayer and God’s Faithfulness

In Nehemiah 9-10, the people of Judah reflected on their past and present situations and their priorities. Nehemiah’s thoughts are recorded in the longest prayer in the Bible in Nehemiah 9:5-38.

Nehemiah focused on who God is. God created everything. All life comes from Him (Nehemiah 9:6). He made a covenant with Abraham and kept it because He is righteous (Nehemiah 9:7-8). Miraculously, He delivered the Israelites from Egypt and led them through the desert (Nehemiah 9:9-12).

He gave them just, right, and good laws to guide them (Nehemiah 9:13-14). He provided food, water, and their land (Nehemiah 9:15). He was faithful. Israel was not. Nehemiah elaborated on both.

Recognizing Sin and Reordering Priorities

The people of Judah focused on how God dealt with them in the past. They acknowledged their sins and changed how they lived (Nehemiah 10).

The Danger of Meaningless Busyness

How often do we reflect on God’s faithfulness, compassion, and forgiveness? Nehemiah 9 applies to us when self-serving goals control our lives. We must beware of meaningless motion.

We think busyness is a virtue. It isn’t. Some of us are figuratively treading water in the mid-Pacific Ocean, no matter what others think we have accomplished. We are minding our own business, not God’s. The Holy Spirit enables us to discern the latter.

Wholehearted Commitment to God

The people of Judah were serious enough to write down their commitment to follow God’s will. They bound themselves with a curse if they broke their agreement.

Bill and Vonette Bright signed a contract giving God the title deed of their lives. In it, they said, “We want to serve You and do whatever You want us to do and go wherever You want us to go, whatever the cost.”¹ 

The Jesus Film is one of many fruits of this original “I do” to God. Bill and Vonette Bright have influenced millions of people to follow Jesus.

Are we putting first things first? That includes wholeheartedly loving God and loving our neighbor as ourselves. Does our time, energy, and money management testify that those are our priorities?

Living Out God-Given Passion

We live for Jesus most effectively when we follow our spiritual passion. My passion is using my God-given writing ability to make more and better disciples for Jesus. How will you employ your God-given gifts to live for Jesus’ and others’ benefit? See additional free spiritual growth resources for Christians.  #freediscipleshipresources #freeevangelismresources #freechristianleadershipresources

1.     How You Can Help Fulfill the Great Commission | Cru Singapore

God has empowered me to write His Power for Your Weakness—260 Steps Toward Spiritual Strength. It’s a free, evangelistic, devotional, and discipleship e-book. Pastors have used it in Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia to lead 7,541 people to Christ and teach the basics of Christianity to 17,361 people. I invite you to explore and use it in your setting.

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