Nobody gets everything in this life. You decide your priorities and you make your choices. I’d decided long ago that any cake I had would be eaten. —Donald E. Westlake, Two Much
My daughter went to study abroad, and a few weeks after she left, I found that connecting across time zones was a serious challenge. I was constantly missing her calls. One day I decided no more—day or night, I was answering that phone.
The next time my daughter called, I was in the middle of an elder meeting. As soon as I saw it was her, I excused myself. That elder meeting was important, but the phone call from my daughter was most important.
It’s important to live life with our priorities straight. Some things are important, others are more important, but only a handful are MOST important. These MOST important things are worth dropping everything for.
I love Moses’ reflection on a life surrendered to God:
Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. (Psalm 90:12)
Nothing encourages prioritization like the reality of limited time.
We see this was true for Jesus, too. Think about it: Everything Jesus did was important. Yet some things He considered more important, and every once in a while, we see Him drop everything for that which He considered MOST important.
Examining Jesus’ priorities is important because if Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever—which He is—and if He indwells believers at the moment of conversion—which He does by His Spirit—and if we surrender to Him and He expresses Himself through us, then our life on earth now will look like His life on earth then.
His priorities will become our priorities. The things most important to Him will become the most important to us.
Jesus, I ask for Your wisdom to guide me as I learn to discern between great and best. I’m eager to know what You consider MOST important. Amen.
Learn more from Pete’s teaching series on Luke, What Will Jesus Do?