The Gospel of Grace by Pete BriscoeSample

The Most Important Thing

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

When my daughter went to study abroad, 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 a meeting. As soon as I saw it was her, I excused myself. That meeting was important, but the phone call from my daughter was MOST important.

It’s important to live life with your priorities straight. Some things are important, others are more important, but only a handful are most important. And the 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.

This was true for Jesus, too. Though everything He did was important, some things He considered more important. And every once in a while, we see Him drop everything for what He considered most important.

Examining Jesus’ priorities is important because:

If Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever…

And He indwells believers by His Spirit…

And He expresses Himself through moment by moment…

His life in us today will look like His life among us 2,000 years ago.

His priorities will become our priorities. The things most important to Him will become most important to us.

Jesus, I ask for Your wisdom to guide me as I learn to discern between good and best. I’m eager to know what You consider most important. It excites me to learn something new about You. To discover Your priorities is to discover Your heart. Amen.