Thursday, March 23rd
Devotional written by Rrachel Fitzpatrick, Local Outreach Director
PLACE VALUE
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Matthew 6:33
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Somewhere in our early elementary years, we begin to learn the meaning of “place value.” Place Value is the basis of our entire number system, and it is the value of each digit in a number. In other words, the position of a digit in a number determines its value.
When we love God most, we love others best. Those of us who know God know the depth of love and breadth of His grace that can easily flow to others from our relationship with Him. Ephesians 3:18-19 expresses this well. “And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”
I find this a convicting and uncomfortable truth: How we love others reveals how we love God. The apostle John puts it bluntly: “For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.” (1 John 4:20). Our love for each other indicates the place God is holding in our hearts. Since the greatest and second greatest commandments are involved in these things, we know they are important to God. The best thing we can do today is take an honest, reflective look at how we love others.
Some of my “not best” moments as a friend, co-worker, parent, and wife were when my lifeline was not vertically aligned with my Heavenly Father. Let’s allow what we read in Matthew 6:33 to dwell in us and ask God what He would have us do in response.
Reflection: What place value do you give God?
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