“I have asked one thing from the LORD; it is what I desire: to dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, gazing on the beauty of the LORD and seeking Him in His temple.” Psalm 27:4 (HCSB)
We were created to be in an intimate relationship with God. As such, He is to be our highest priority, our first love, the object of our greatest commitment. This is not the great option, it is the great commandment! The very first of the ten commandments is all about having no other God but Him (Exodus 20:3). Jesus Himself even said the greatest commandment is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength (Matthew 22:37-38). We are instructed to seek His presence continually, that is constantly, without ceasing (Psalm 105:3).
God is not meant to be merely number one with a close second nipping from behind. No, our love, devotion and commitment to Him is to be far above everything, and anything else. We are to cry out like David, seeking the one thing, at which we desire most, that is to dwell in God’s presence, all the days, every second of every day, of our lives! God even says that when we have such a single focused love for Him that we will be rewarded (Hebrews 11:6). We are told that God searches the planet for those whose hearts are fully His (2 Chronicles 16:9). He even says that no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived the amazing things He has in store for those who love Him and keep His commands (1 Corinthians 2:9, Isaiah 64:4). The bottom line is, He is to be infinitely above all other priorities!
What will it mean, cost or change in you, for God to be your number one? What will look different for Him to truly be the top priority in your life? For David it was obvious, it was an obsession! Will you make Jesus your obsession?
Cry out to God, seeking His face, His presence, asking Him to give you the grace to make Him number one. Tell Him you are willing to make Jesus your obsession! Tell Him that He is exalted above every other god, love or desire in your life. Tell Him that He is more important than your spouse, your future, your wealth, your children, your reputation, your business, your ministry, your everything! Pray for your pastor to truly put Jesus in the very most important, exulted place in his life. Cry out for an atmosphere at your church that seeks His presence above all else. And pray for the Church in Athens to be a place, and a people who seeks Jesus above every other system, religious tradition and doctrine of man (or demons). Pray that the Church of Athens would be highly commended by Jesus because of our utmost commitment to seek Him first and foremost above all else!
