I'll answer your question above about putting Jesus first. But first, I want to say that I don't like answering questions about whether I love God, whether I'm walking in obedience, whether Jesus is number one in my life, etc. The reasons why are a.) the answers for those questions aren't always simple, and b.) many times in christian circles, those questions only invite christians to wax more righteous than they really are. I haven't yet heard one christian say they hate God, but many do-- sometimes for justifiable reasons, but they still won't say it and will put their best foot forward.
I've been pursuing God since March 1998 after I had a sudden encounter with Him. However, my pursuit of Him isn't due to some goodness or godliness or righteousness of my own. I'll use two practical examples to show why I've pursued and put God and His Kingdom first since 1998:
1.) A toddler is apt to be enthralled with marbles. He/she doesn't know any better. But as they get older, if they were to see diamonds, then marbles would no longer impress them. This is simply because diamonds look far better than marbles, and as the child grows, they'll also find out that diamonds are far more valuable than marbles.
2.) "Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and Grace." That chorus probably best summarizes my experience after March 1998. I grew up in church and was a christian who shrugged about church. But after my encounter with God, church grew "strangely dim" because now there was God to compare church to, and believe me, there is just no comparison. My appetite for church was obliterated.
In the summer, when it's really sunny outside, you go sit on the front lawn or on the deck. Or maybe you go play some football or basketball or take a walk or ride a bike. You spend a long time in the sun. Then you go back home. You left all the lights off in your house because it's daytime. But when you return home after being in the sun for a while, suddenly, your house is dark. Of course, it's not really dark at all. It's just that after being in the much more superior light of the sun, your eyes adjusted to and became accustomed to it which now makes it plainly apparent that the light in your house is inferior. I put God first because everything else is inferior to God by lightyears. I didn't put Him first because the Bible told me to or because I'm a godly person.
this is all I was wondering about you personally
“I've been
pursuing God since March 1998”
the reason I asked is because that’s where the blessings are when we are doing that
I wasn’t asking about your personal deeds or what you do daily I was asking if your eyes re on the gospel while your waiting that’s all I was curious about
it’s why I sort of pointed out what I wasn’t asking about .
I was wondering if you were focused on the old testament , or the gospel because in the old testsment the blessings are all earthly , and it doesn’t offer what our testament does
Was just curious about whether you were pursuing God through Christ and the gospel , or just expecting blessing apart from that
you already answered what I was wondering but I’m. Ot sure I’m able to be clear most often and not sure you understood what I was asking
either way I’d like to join you in prayer regarding the things you’ve been waiting for is that’s alright
sometimes another Christian’s agreement in prayer makes a difference
“Again I say unto you, That
if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.”
Matthew 18:19
in no way was I trying to judge you or anything brother , I was trying to understand your inquiry and post and was just wondering if you were pursuing the thing or Jesus which again you’ve already answered
our own works aren’t anyone else’s business honestly we all have only one to answer for for our wrongs and the things we’ve done right none of us have any place judging or condemning or pretending we don’t have our own flaws and issues we’re working on
was just trying to give you an informed opinion
I was just thinking about Elijah when he prayed for rain it didn’t come right away , but each day in faith he sent a man to look and see if it looked like rain was coming no clouds yet , so then he sent him day after day and then “ there’s just one little cloud in the sky ……eventually the rains let loose and a three and a half year drought ended by a mans prayer and his faith in God to bring it to pass
when we don’t see it happening , it’s a test of our faith