There is a worldly practice we have been indoctrinated with that makes it a point to go first or be first. In the world’s culture, winning is everything, but winning means always coming first. Yet, in a kingdom culture, we are not to be first for the sake of being first, but the first in line to serve.
Matthew 19:30, 20:16; Mark 9:35, 10:31; Luke 13:30,
“But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.”
We have an example of someone who chose wrongly to be first in 3 John, where the author writes of an individual named Diotrephes, who loved to be first and chose to have his will before God’s: “I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us. So when I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us. Not satisfied with that, he even refuses to welcome other believers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.” 3 John 1:9-10 NIV
And as most of us know and acknowledge, God is the first and the last:
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”
Revelation 22:13 NIV
Last Adam
In the kingdom of God, those who choose to be last, must choose Jesus first. In Genesis, Adam was the first Adam, and we later read in the Bible that Jesus Christ, is the second and last Adam: “So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit.” 1 Corinthians 15:45 NIV
Jesus First
With this information, we know we are to be like Jesus. So, let us learn to be last to eat, to enrich ourselves, to complain, to have our way, and always be first to give, to care, to love, to help, and to listen to God. We must choose not to be carnally-minded as the first Adam, but be Holy Spirit led by the second Adam, who is Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 8:5 NIV
“And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.”
As our Lord Jesus Christ is the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, we too can be like Him by being first and last in all things. The first to do what is good and right, and last to do what is worldly or carnal. Let us always choose to be fiirst to give mercy, and the last to dole out judgement.
Romans 8:6 NIV
“The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.”
Blessings to your understanding and your putting to practice any knowledge and wisdom gleaned from this message, and thank you for reading it. May you have peace, joy, and love overflowing today!
You are loved! ❤️