Have you ever thought about the seven things that matter the most in your life? Jot them down right quick. While I was recovering from my neck surgery this year I was in deep prayer and meditation and I had a vision of the seven things that matter the most to Jesus.
It was interesting to me that I received “seven” as that is the number of perfection. I captured what I saw in an animation and put it on The Jesus Alliance website and it is a fairly good representation. https://vimeo.com/137745964
It is as follows:
- The foundation for Jesus Christ was God’s Holy Word the Bible always pointing towards the cross
- His Prayer life was unfailing and vigorous
- Unity of His church was vitally important to Him
- Evangelism – He witnessed to almost everyone He ever met
- Discipleship – He taught others and encouraged them to disciple others
- Kingdom – He was deeply involved with Compassion Ministry and helped anyone He ever met that was in need
- Love All Serve All – His primary purpose in life was to love and to serve which He did by offering his very life in exchange for ours
How does your list of the things that matter most to you compare?
If it is like mine, it is not as close as I would like for it to be. Christ set the example for our lives by living a perfect life Himself. Though we cannot be perfect, we can try to emulate Him and the closer we can come to emulating Jesus, the more blessed our lives will be, not only on earth but in heaven.
So I say again, “What matters the most to you”?
As for me I want to please God and when I face Him I want to be able to say what is found in 2 Tim. 4:7: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have kept the faith”.
My father quoted that very verse to me the last time I spoke with him prior to his passing last year. He told me that he had fought the good fight and he did. Like most of us he had a few rocky roads that he traversed especially in his younger days, but he finished exceedingly strong, founding three churches and having taught Sunday school for some 40 years (into his 90’s).
Today he is with Jesus in heaven. His career means nothing, and neither does any material thing he owned, or any other gratuitous thing. I’m happy that long before God called him home, dad realized that the things that mattered the most to Jesus were the things that would affect him the most after he walked through the valley of the shadow of death.
The man that narrated my animation is Preston Scott. He is the most successful radio talk show host in Tallahassee and no conservative candidate, presidential or otherwise, passes through our fair city without appearing on his morning show.
Preston is the son of the “Voice of the Packers” . . . Hall of Fame announcer, Ray Scott and his life and career have afforded him the opportunity to be around the rich and famous. He could have easily become caught up in that lifestyle but remained faithful to his God and his church and even though extremely busy he makes time for both. He actually came to Tallahassee as an associate pastor of Heritage Church. He will be preaching and sharing some of his fascinating life experiences with us at Honey Lake Church this weekend and I urge you to be there. The service begins at 11.
To me Preston Scott has found a good balance between serving his Lord and building a rewarding career. One time I spoke at the church he currently attends and he was right there playing an active role as a leader. The next morning I heard his familiar voice on the radio talking up politics and other issues near and dear to him.
We don’t have to enter a monastery or fulltime Christian service to follow Jesus. We can use the Bible as our foundation, pray, gather together with others, witness, disciple, perform good works, Love All Serve All, and raise a wonderful family, pursue a great career, or whatever, but in order to receive God’s full blessings, Jesus must be first on the list. And though our efforts are not worthy and cannot measure up to His perfect standards, His love and grace abound and when we fight the good fight and remain faithful we still receive his reward. Praise his name!
2 Tim. 4:8
. . . in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.
September 8, 2015 – Click here to listen