TRULY SET APART!
There are some things God wants totally set apart for himself! God wants the best of your time, the best of your affection, the best of your money and possessions and the best of your strength and efforts! Many times we have given our best to other things while God gets put on the shelf. Listen to what God said to the Israelites through Joshua:
But the LORD said to Joshua, “Get up! Why are you lying on your face like this? Israel has sinned and broken my covenant! They have stolen some of the things that I commanded must be set apart for me. And they have not only stolen them but have lied about it and hidden the things among their own belongings. That is why the Israelites are running from their enemies in defeat. For now Israel itself has been set apart for destruction. I will not remain with you any longer unless you destroy the things among you that were set apart for destruction. (Joshua 7:10-12 NLT)
Many times Christians don't know why the devil is chasing them rather than them chasing the devil. This is directly related to how we position ourselves before God. Know this, God is complete and does not need anything from us but rather is the giver of everything that's good! He does not need our money, time or affection, but instead uses those things as an opportunity to give to us all that he is! When we offer God our first and our very best, it is like hooking up a direct connection to heaven for our blessing to flow to us through. God is looking for our heart! Our money, time and affection declare where our heart is.
Luke 12:34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
It is interesting that this Scripture does not say, where your heart is, there your treasure will be also… Rather vice versa. In other words, it requires sowing a seed to cause your heart with where it needs to be. Apostle James said it like this, "Come near to God and he will come near to you.” (James 4:8)Though God is always calling us to him, we must draw near to him for him to come near to us. God has given you the ability to choose to sow a seed, but when you do, he steps in to do the rest.
Think about it… Is God first in your life? Take an inventory of what is possessing the best of you and make sure the best and first of you is devoted to God! I challenge you today to let your first and best be…