“And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence” (Colossians 1:18).
As a child of God, it’s important for you to realize that you’re first a Christian before you’re anything else. You’re first of all a Christian before you’re a parent; you’re first of all a Christian before you’re a staff in your place of work. Therefore in everything you do you must put the Lord first; let Him have the pre-eminence.
Never let anything dissipate your zeal for the Lord, or cause your commitment to spiritual things to wane. Make up your mind not to let anything quench your zeal for the things of the Spirit. There’re folks who have gotten married and as a result are no longer committed to certain spiritual activities as they hitherto were. They no longer attend midweek services, prayer meetings and other special meetings and programmes organized by their local assembly because they need to spend time with their spouse and children. Some don’t even spend enough time to pray and study their Bibles anymore due to work or family related pressures. This ought not to be.
Don’t allow marriage, that new job, or anything else for that matter reduce your zeal for the Lord and commitment to spiritual things. The Bible says that godliness—spiritual activities are of eternal value: “For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come” (1 Timothy 4:8).
The fact that you’re married should be an added advantage for you to reach a new world of couples with the gospel of Jesus Christ! It ought to be an opportunity to bring up children in the fear and admonition of God, and not for your commitment to Him to wane. Never find yourself entirely occupied with other things until things go wrong in your home, marriage, job, health or finances before turning to the Lord. Put Him first in everything you do.
The reason God gave you a job is not so the job will take His place in your life. The reason He gave you a home is not so you’ll be preoccupied with domestic affairs at the expense of your fellowship and devotion to Him. Remember, you’re first of all a Christian, therefore put the Lord first in everything you do; give Him that place of pre-eminence in your life that He alone deserves.
Prayer
Dear heavenly Father, I declare that you’re Lord of my life and the personality of my deepest and unreserved affection. I pledge to always give you the place of pre-eminence in my life, knowing that as I seek you first by doing your will, you’ll make my life and everything that concerns me beautiful, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Further Study
Matthew 6:33
Exodus 20:2-3
Isaiah 48:12
(Taken by permission from Christ Embassy Church , aka Believer’s LoveWorld Ministries , Lagos, Nigeria. www.ChristEmbassy.org )
