This was the first devo I had planned for camp last week. Only six little verses, but they took us 45 minutes to talk through. It’s because each one has so many implications. Each one is so much to apply to our lives.
- Matthew 6:33: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Put God in first place and worry about the other things in life afterward. He says He’ll provide the basics for you if you make sure you are faithful to Him.
- Colossians 3:2: “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” Your goals, hopes, dreams, and plans need to be oriented around spiritual things. Make sure your material and education goals fall in line with God’s plan. You want to study for a degree? Great! You’d better choose a school near a faithful congregation of Christians, and you’d better not choose so many classes that you can’t make it to worship. You want to save up for a house? Congrats! You’d better be giving as you’re prospered along the way (1 Cor 16:2). Set spiritual goals for yourself, like preparing a devotional for young people, leading singing, or leading prayer. Determine to be a Bible class teacher soon, or an elder or ladies’ day teacher one day. Plan to work in the kingdom. Don’t allow yourself to become so busy that you don’t have time for the Lord.
- Daniel 1:8: “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.” In order to keep God first, you must purpose in your heart to follow Him. Like the verse from Colossians, you must set your mind on things above. You must decide now, before you’re around the temptation, that you’re going to choose God’s way. It won’t be easy, but it will be rewarding.
- Luke 9:62: “And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Back in the day, plowing fields was done with an animal and a man. You had to keep your eyes focused dead ahead to keep your rows straight. If you turned around to look back, your arms would tweak the handle of the plow and give you a crooked row. Jesus says someone who has put his hands to the handle of Christianity and looks back to his former, sinful life is unfit for the kingdom. When Lot’s wife looked back, she was turned into a pillar of salt (Gen 19:26). Who knows what she was thinking about. Whatever it was, it wasn’t worth it.
- Deuteronomy 30:19: “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live…” God knows there are many things vying for our time. He has asked us to choose the best things, to choose life. Prioritize with God at the top.
The Strait and Narrow 