How to Be a Champion for the Lord

08/01/24 – 08/18/24

Champions Put God First

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  08/06/24

From the first moment we step into church, we are taught to put God first in our lives. Yet, are we really doing this? Does He own first place in our hearts all the time or simply when it is convenient?

It is easy to proclaim that we have placed the Lord first; however, the true test comes when life throws us an unexpected curve. This is when we discover if what we say with our mouths is really true in our hearts.

Authentic humility and love aspire to put God before everything else, no matter what the price may be. It might cost us our dreams. It might cost us our jobs. It might cost us status in society. But the cost of failing to put God first is far more astronomical.

David’s heart was one finely attuned to God’s love and affection. When he received the disappointing answer to his request to build the temple, David’s love did not collapse. Instead, he was inspired to a deeper sense of worship and love for God.

Read 1 Chronicles 17. In this chapter, we see David’s humble heart before God and his zeal to glorify the name of the Lord. Though David’s plans were rejected by God—the Lord would not use David, a man of war, as the principal architect of His temple—upon receiving God’s Word from the prophet Nathan, “King David went in and sat before the LORD” (v. 16). David praised the Lord for His perfect plan, awed that He would allow him input into the design and construction of the temple.

You see, for David, building the temple was all about honoring God, not going down in history as the king who built it. As believers with the amazing privilege of advancing God’s Kingdom, we must make sure our motives are solely to see His name glorified. That is how we put Him first.

Prayer: Lord, I praise You for Your great love. That the Almighty God would make a way to redeem a wicked people is astonishing and humbling. Use me for Your glory, Father, and help me to put You first in all I do. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“And now, LORD, let the promise you have made concerning your servant and his house be established forever. Do as you promised, so that it will be established and that your name will be great forever” (1 Chronicles 17:23-24a).