So… this morning… what was the first thought that came into your mind?  Usually, what takes 1st thought… becomes our most important task… some of us may have thought… “Is it that time already?” or “I’ve got to get up because I have this and this and this and that to do today.”

But what if we started each day with what is most important to God?  What if that was the first thought of our day?  If it’s important enough for God to spend time on… it should be most important for us.  And Love seems to be the main message of God.  Scripture teaches us that…

• Love is the supreme value in life.  Matthew 22:37-39
• Love is the primary objective in life. Colossians 3:14
• Love is the greatest power in life.  I Corinthians 13:13

Nothing I say, know, believe, give or accomplish will ever trump Love!  And without love, what I say, know, believe, give, or accomplish will amount to zero!  Love is that important!

Everything we do… should be done with love.  So… today, is what matters most to God… mattering most to you?

Hey, we’re on this journey together… let me know how it’s going.

Early in my Christian life, I got mixed up with a group of people who set themselves apart from others in terms of the discipline of their lifestyle. The main “ministry” of these people seemed to be rebuking, judging, and preaching their version of holiness.

I thank God that He helped me escape from that kind of legalism. If I’d stayed with those folks, I might have maintained a record of superficial obedience, but I never would have been awakened to a love relationship with the Lord.

It’s not that holiness isn’t important. It is! What’s wrong with the legalistic approach is emphasizing our own works instead of the work of Christ. And that “work,” above all, was His willing sacrifice for us on the cross.

There’s a good reason that, every time we take Communion, we are forced to think of Calvary. There’s a good reason we observe Good Friday every year. The death of Christ, and the resurrection that followed, are the central acts in the drama that led to our salvation. We need to turn back to that time in remembrance again and again.

And as we do so, let us also remember that Christ’s was no ordinary death. It was a death in which the Son of God agreed to pay for the sins of all of us. Every man, woman, and child who trusts in Christ may now be forgiven and accepted by the heavenly Father. Good Friday indeed. It is because of Christ’s death on the cross that we can live every day in an atmosphere of grace and not judgment. To live by grace is to live solely by the merit of Jesus Christ. To live by grace is to base my entire relationship with God, including my acceptance and standing with Him, on my union with Christ. —Jerry Bridges

The ultimate test of our spirituality is the measure of our amazement at the grace of God. —D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
of God.

One day when I was a college student, I heard a speaker say, “If you’ve never really walked with God, you need to walk with God this summer.” A simple challenge, but I knew I had heard the voice of God. I needed to surrender to God totally, not just treat Him as an add-on to an already busy life. So in my heart I responded, Yes, God! And from then on, everything was different for me. Every day, God was at the forefront of my thoughts and at the heart of my emotions.

Believe it or not, that’s how we’re all supposed to live all the time. We all need an awakening to the Lord that lets us live close to him, with passion and freshness. The apostle Paul put it as a command: “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord” (Romans 12:11).

Where this passion comes out most naturally is in worship. We can’t help singing praise songs to God. We can’t help telling Him how wonderful He is and how much we love Him. To be awakened is to worship, and thus we fulfi ll the purpose for which we were created.

As we approach Easter and revisit Christ’s death and resurrection, let’s ask ourselves if we’re worshiping our great God with joy and abandon. Are we fi lled with zeal? Have we held on to our spiritual fervor?

This can be the season when you awaken to a new life of passion for Christ.
Worship is the thank you that can’t be silenced. —Max Lucado

You know what’s really wild? This massive God, who has never known any shortage of worship, wants to be worshiped . . . by you. Right now. —Louie Giglio

Bible Reading Plan: Matthew 21:1-17

Prayer Focus:
Lately, has worship for you been more a matter of “ought to” or “want to”?
What is the temperature of your heart for God—cold? lukewarm? burning
hot? How do you want to be different by Easter? Pray about these things.