December 6 , 2018 - IS GOD FIRST IN YOUR LIFE?

Day 340 - (Today’s Bible readings: Joshua 19:32-51; Psalm 128; Acts 6:1-7)

“Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways! You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.”  (Psalm 128:1-2 ESV)

What is the key to blessings in this life? Is it individual effort? Is it victory in the battles of life? 

According to David, blessings come to those who fear and trust in God, to those who walk the walk directed by the Lord. 

Luther put it this way in his explanation to the First Commandment: “We should fear, love and trust in God above all things.” What does this mean?
“It means that we look to God first and foremost for our well-being, rather than to
A. human achievements... (Genesis 11:1-9);
B. human goodness or religious devotion (Luke 18:9-14);
C. money and possessions (Luke 18:18-24);
D. pleasures such as food, drink, sex, sports, or entertainment (1 Corinthians 6:12-20);
E. family and friends (Matthew 10:37-39).”
(The First Commandment, Luther’s Small Catechism, CPH 2017, page 61)

How do you measure up to this list of things that get in the way of keeping God first? If you like me, you find yourself falling far short of God’s expectations. This the precise  reason that Jesus came to this earth. He came to free us from the sin of putting ourselves first instead of our all-loving God.

Heavenly Father, grant me a humble spirit that recognizes that You are God and that I a not. In Jesus’ saving name. Amen.

Pastor David Paape 

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 ), is the theme for this three-year journey through the entire Old Testament once (the Psalms - twice yearly), and the New Testament twice. There will be daily readings from the O.T., Psalms and the N.T. Special days on the church calendar will be highlighted with appropriate readings. This calendar has been compiled by representatives of the Lutheran Church of Canada, the North American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Please click this link for the daily reading calendar:
https://blogs.lcms.org/2017/lcms-lcc-and-nalc-compile-three-year-schedule-of-daily-bible-readings  
Then scroll down to 2018 Bible Reading Calendar and download it if you so wish. The “assigned” daily readings will appear on a daily basis in this blog. May the Lord bless your meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!