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firsts


There are so many things we can list about what is first.  We could talk about our first words or first steps.  You might move on to share your first thoughts or first actions after something happened.


But I start this week with some thoughts about firsts.  There are important.  


Years ago I heard about some ministry impacting students in big ways.  It was not something that was getting the church lots of attention.  Simply needs were met and people were hearing about Jesus.


That is when back2school was born in some conversations I was part of.  There are so many firsts that I can share, but we are in the middle of our 17th year of back2school and ready to serve students once again.  This is a great opportunity.  


Think with me for a few minutes about some of the first things…


1 John 4:19  NLT  

We love each other because he loved us first.


God loved us first.  He sought us and blessed us first.  Long before we thought about Him, God was thinking about us.  His love is incredible and endless.


Revelation 2:4  NLT  

But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first!


Complaint from God?  Yes.  God speaking to one of the churches of Revelation that had grown cold and with less heart than they had in the past.  That is why the complaint made so much sense as God pleaded with them to return to the things they did at first.


Matthew 6:33 NLT 

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.


In fact the most important thing is to seek God.  Before you worry about what you are going to eat or what you are going to wear, seek God.  Go back and read Matthew 6.  Seek God above all else and see how God works in and through your life.


There is more.  Get ready.  It takes movement.  You cannot stay where you are and keep moving forward or growing stronger people of faith.


2 Corinthians 8:5  NLT  

They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do.


Those people have been my heroes since I first read those verses.  The reason they served is because they were following God and seeking Him more than untying else.


May that same thing be found true of you and me.  Seek God first.  Love God like we did at first.  

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