Jesus First
I greet you in Jesus’ precious name! It is Sunday morning, the 23rd of August, 2026, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for the day. We start in the Book of Exodus 20:3:
“You shall have no other gods before Me.”
Then we go to Matthew 19:22:
”But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”
Nothing must come before the sovereignty of God, Jesus first all the time! A man by the name of Guthrie wrote something which I thought was quite challenging. He says, ”If you find yourself beginning to love any pleasure better than your prayers, any book better than your Bible, any house better than God’s house, any table better than the Lord’s table, any person better than your Saviour, anyone better than your soul, a present indulgence better than the hope of Heaven, take alarm.” Folks, that really, really rocked me.
Now you see the rich young ruler said to Jesus, "I obey all the commandments, right from when I was a young boy.” But Jesus said to him, "Give away all your riches and come and follow after Me.” The Bible says he couldn’t do it, he walked away because his riches, his possessions, were worth more to him than following Jesus.
I remember a minister telling me many years ago that he believed that Jesus was standing, looking at him, with tears running down His face because that young man was on his way to hell. I also believe, and so did that minister, that if he had said, ”Lord, I will follow You,” the Lord would have given him back all his riches. The Lord doesn’t need your riches, my friend. He doesn’t need my riches. He doesn’t need your reputation, He doesn’t need my reputation. He needs us, and today let us take note of anything in our lives. The Lord says in Matthew 6:33:
”But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
He doesn’t want to spoil your life. No, He wants to give you life abundantly. That’s what He said in John 10:10. Today, let’s put Jesus first and then He will ensure that we get the rest.
God bless you and goodbye.