Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - “First God, Then Everything Else” – Friday, 5 September 2014 - Scripture: 1 Samuel 2:27-36

Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - “First God, Then Everything Else” – Friday, 5 September 2014 - Scripture: 1 Samuel 2:27-30 A holy man came to Eli and said: “This is God’s message: I revealed myself openly to your ancestors when they were Pharaoh’s slaves in Egypt. Out of all the tribes of Israel, I chose your family to be my priests: to preside at the Altar, to burn incense, to wear the priestly robes in my presence. I put your ancestral family in charge of all the sacrificial offerings of Israel. So why do you now treat as mere loot these very sacrificial offerings that I commanded for my worship? Why do you treat your sons better than me, turning them loose to get fat on these offerings, and ignoring me? Therefore—this is God’s word, the God of Israel speaking—I once said that you and your ancestral family would be my priests indefinitely, but now—God’s word, remember!—there is no way this can continue.
I honor those who honor me;
those who scorn me I demean.
31-36 “Be well warned: It won’t be long before I wipe out both your family and your future family. No one in your family will make it to old age! You’ll see good things that I’m doing in Israel, but you’ll see it and weep, for no one in your family will live to enjoy it. I will leave one person to serve at my Altar, but it will be a hard life, with many tears. Everyone else in your family will die before their time. What happens to your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, will be the proof: Both will die the same day. Then I’ll establish for myself a true priest. He’ll do what I want him to do, be what I want him to be. I’ll make his position secure and he’ll do his work freely in the service of my anointed one. Survivors from your family will come to him begging for handouts, saying, ‘Please, give me some priest work, just enough to put some food on the table.’”
“First God, Then Everything Else” by William A. Roberts

“Why do you love your sons more than me?” That is what the Lord asked Eli. For too long, the kindly old priest had knowingly tolerated the ungodly behavior of his sons. It was spoken of on every street corner. Everyone in Israel seemed to know.
Sadly, Eli had lost all control over his family. Where did it begin? Perhaps it started with something small and seemingly innocent. Boys will be boys, you know. Surely Eli’s godly life would convince his sons that they should live for God as well. But they didn’t.
Eli had not reckoned on God’s participation in all this. He had forgotten that he was dealing with the God of the Universe, the Creator of all things, the Holy One. It is a dangerous thing to treat the things of God lightly. God is holy, and we need to be careful how we relate to Him. He deserves of all the honor and reverence we can muster, and more.

Because God is first in all things, all our other loves should be nothing more than a distant second at best.

Hymn for Today:

"Give of Your Best To The Master" by Howard B. Grose
1. Give of your best to the Master;
Give of the strength of your youth;
Throw your soul’s fresh, glowing ardor
Into the battle for truth.
Jesus has set the example,
Dauntless was He, young and brave;
Give Him your loyal devotion;
Give Him the best that you have.
Refrain:
Give of your best to the Master;
Give of the strength of your youth;
Clad in salvation’s full armor,
Join in the battle for truth.
2. Give of your best to the Master;
Give Him first place in your heart;
Give Him first place in your service;
Consecrate every part.
Give, and to you will be given;
God His beloved Son gave;
Gratefully seeking to serve Him,
Give Him the best that you have.
Refrain:
Give of your best to the Master;
Give of the strength of your youth;
Clad in salvation’s full armor,
Join in the battle for truth.
3. Give of your best to the Master;
Naught else is worthy His love;
He gave Himself for your ransom,
Gave up His glory above.
Laid down His life without murmur,
You from sin’s ruin to save;
Give Him your heart’s adoration;
Give Him the best that you have.
Refrain:
Give of your best to the Master;
Give of the strength of your youth;
Clad in salvation’s full armor,
Join in the battle for truth.

Thought for Today:

“Our character, beliefs, and behaviors are shaped from the time we are children, so we should teach them about Jesus from the start”(Session Truth).
Prayer Needs:
That many people in Costa Rica will come to know Jesus the Christ, Yeshua the Messiah, and receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
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