Priorities are important to God. We see that in the sequence of the Ten Commandments, which begin with these words: "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me" (Exodus 20:2-3).

In the first commandment God did not just mean deities in the literal sense, but anything that could take the highest priority in our life. The one who pronounced the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai – the Word – later appeared in human form (John 1:1-3, 14). Jesus showed us the spirit of the first commandments by telling us that we have to love Him, i. e., God, more than any human being who might be important to us:

"He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me" (Matthew 10:36).

Loving God more than we love father, mother, son, daughter or any other person like our spouse doesn't mean that those people are not important to us. They are important, but God is more important. Even our own life is not more important than our relationship to God (Luke 14:26). Physical life can involve striving for recognition, influence, power and wealth.

How do we know that God is the highest priority in our life? Paying lip service to God isn't enough. Our actions tell the real story. "But why do you call Me Lord, Lord, and not do the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46).

Without the right priorities in our life we cannot please God. This is a good time of year for an "priority inventory". So, what is the highest priority in our life?

With these thoughts I wish everyone a rewarding Sabbath!