Seek First

To seek means to be absorbed in the search of something.  It requires a persevering and strenuous effort to attain something.  It is constantly going after that which is important.  First means first in time, value, and rank.  First precedes all others.  It is a fresh start. First has the place of priority over everything else.

Read More

Go to God First

How do you handle a difficult situation or a serious trial when it comes your way? 

Ps 119:147 I rise before the dawning of the morning, and cry for help; I hope in Your word.

The psalmist is saying, “The first thing I’m going to do is I’m going to rise before the morning and cry out for help from God”. 

Sometimes we can get disillusioned and hopeless in the midst of difficult times.  Many times this hopelessness comes because we have not come to God first with the problem. 

Read More

Giving With A Right Heart

Mal 1:6-8, 13  "A son honors his father,  And a servant his master. If then I am the Father, Where is My honor? And if I am a Master, Where is My reverence? Says the LORD of hosts to you priests who despise My name. Yet you say, 'In what way have we despised Your name?' 7 "You offer defiled food on My altar, But say, 'In what way have we defiled You?' By saying, 'The table of the LORD is contemptible.'  8 And when you offer the blind as a sacrifice,Is it not evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, Is it not evil? Offer it then to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you favorably?" Says the LORD of hosts. 13 You also say, 'Oh, what a weariness!' And you sneer at it," Says the LORD of hosts. "And you bring the stolen, the lame, and the sick;  Thus you bring an offering! Should I accept this from your hand?" Says the LORD.

This passage of scripture shows that bringing an offering to God doesn’t necessarily mean that it will be accepted by Him. The people being spoken to in this passage of scripture were giving offerings, but their offerings were not being accepted by God.  That is because they were not giving Him their best.  They were giving Him their leftovers; they were giving to Him what they didn’t want anymore. God doesn’t want our leftovers; He wants our best. 

Read More

Firstfruits

Ex 23:19 The first of the firstfruits of your land you shall bring into the house of the Lord your God. 

God doesn’t want our leftovers; He wants our best; He wants the first of what we have received. This scripture tells us that we are to bring Him our firstfruits to Him.  Firstfruits are mentioned many times in the bible showing that there was a clear understanding of them in the culture of the people. They understood that the first one to be considered in any increase they received is God.

Read More

Early Will I Seek You

How you start something can really set a tone for how things are going to go for you in any given situation or season. How you first react to a trial that comes your way, what you do first every morning, or how you start off a new season, a new year, or even a new day in your life will determine how you will get through those times. 

Read More