Live Second

We are asking that you each buy the book Live Second-365 ways to make Jesus first by Doug Bender. It will be a daily reader for the year of 2013.

• Yes we are asking that you invest in your God relationship with money, time, education, energy and prayer.

Genesis 1:27 (NLT) "So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God He created them; male and female He created them."

• We look like God.
• We resemble the Creator of the universe.
• When we ignore the hurting, oppose the neglected, and forget the unwanted, we are not just sinning against some vague moral code; we insult God’s masterpiece—the one thing on this planet, and perhaps the universe, made to look like Him.
• Violence, prejudice, selfishness, hateful language, they stain the canvasses painted to reflect God.
• We honor a few, our favorites.
• We construct museums for the art worlds greats, Halls of Fame for our athlete superstars.
• But what have we done for everyone else?
• What have we done for the artwork living next door or sitting in the adjacent cubicle?
• Have we looked the beggar on the street corner in his eyes and treated him with the respect he deserves?
• Do we see the thousands of people around us each day and stand in awe at God’s creation?
• We must choose to be passionate after God despite circumstances, despite what others do, despite what others think, feel, or criticize me into thinking.
• Living out our belief in Jesus Christ, living out our trust in His eternal love and promise for mankind.
• Stay determined this year not to back down, not to quit, not to get cold, indifferent, ashamed, or fearful of being a Christian.
• Live second by allowing God to guide, allowing God to speak, allowing God to love and live through you.

Live second-a demonstration.

Daniel 6:3-4,10-11,26-27 (NLT)
"Daniel soon proved himself more capable than all the other administrators and high officers. Because of Daniel's great ability, the king made plans to place him over the entire empire. [4] Then the other administrators and high officers began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling government affairs, but they couldn't find anything to criticize or condemn. He was faithful, always responsible, and completely trustworthy. [10] But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God. [11] Then the officials went together to Daniel's house and found him praying and asking for God's help. [26] "I decree that everyone throughout my kingdom should tremble with fear before the God of Daniel. For he is the living God, and he will endure forever. His kingdom will never be destroyed, and his rule will never end. [27] He rescues and saves his people; he performs miraculous signs and wonders in the heavens and on earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions."

• Daniel stood alone.
• Although he knew about the law against praying to anyone except the king, he continued to pray three times a day as he always had.
• Daniel had a disciplined prayer life.
• Your prayer life is to show God, yourself, and the world about your strong, undeniable, unbreakable belief in and love for Him.
• It shows who's first in your life.
• Daniel lived second.
• Second to others, second to his calling, second to his passion, second to his friends, enemies, relatives, & neighbors.
• Second to his leaders, second to his mission, second to his God.
• The world needs to hear about hope, peace, life.
• That's the kind of presence we need to be in the life of others, everywhere we go, and in everything we do.
• It's imperative that we hear what God is speaking to us, the world lives without it, the church, Christianity, and Christians can not.

Acts 10:42-43 (NLT) "And He ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of all-the living and the dead. [43] He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in Him will have their sins forgiven through His name.

• Preach and testify.
• Testify-Serve as evidence or proof of something's existence.
• I am to testify that Jesus is the Son of God, that Jesus was virgin born, that Jesus came to save people from their sins, and that Jesus is coming back for the church in the rapture.
• I am to testify to people, I am to the world what God has done in me to declare to the world that God still exists, God still forgives, and that God still embodies hope and love.
• Living second is living out that existence.
• God created humanity to be kind, wise, and good rulers of the earth, to love our neighbors and our God. 
• But too often we hurt rather than heal.
• We create disunity and strife rather than love and goodness.
• We use our mouths to gossip rather than defend or encourage.
• We spend our thoughts on vengeance and greed instead of forgiveness and contentment.
• But how would our lives and even our world change if God were First, if we thought of his love before we swung our fists, waged our wars, or sought our glory, wealth, and comfort?
• How would our lives change if the concerns of others and the will of God came before our own?

Prayers:

God, teach me to make you my first thought and your love my highest concern.

God, so often I forget the love and passion you poured into making my neighbors and coworkers, my friends and even my enemies. Help me see them and love them the same way you do.

God show me how to love like you love, forgive as you forgive and teach me to live second to the world.