1 John 5:21, Matthew 22:37, Psalm 37:4, Ephesians 1: 21-23

Jeff Cutts

Towards the end of the Bible there is a book named 1 John. The very last verse of this book encourages us with these words:

Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God's place in your hearts.

It was something that grabbed my attention this past week, so this life file is all about keeping God at the place of NUMBER ONE in our hearts.

In a few days time my wife and I celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary - In 15 years of marriage you can get to know someone quite well. I was perhaps clever enough to marry my best friend, and though of course our relationship has had its ups and downs, that friendship has grown and remained. There are many things that I found out about my wife after we married... (I had some possibly unpleasant surprises of my own to offer!) ...but we know each other well. We know likes and dislikes, we know what encourages, what pleases each other, and what things to avoid if we want peace.

I wanted to marry, many of us do.

Sometimes however in our loneliness that other person, the special one that we are looking for in our life can become all consuming. They can take the first place in our hearts, that place that only God should fill.

In talking with people about relationships I often remark that of course their perfect partner, the true love they have found and fallen for so deeply must be number TWO in their lives. Not that they should 'look after number one' as the world would see it, but that actually God should still be number ONE.

I had a laugh recently talking to a friend who was explaining he used to go to different youth meetings with some friends 'sharking' - going, not to worship or learn from God's word, but to check out the girls with the intention of finding someone hot! A funny story now he's far on from those times, but the question nags me, how often do we let people or things take the place of God in our lives?

Someone came to Jesus one time and asked 'Teacher, what is the greatest commandment?' In reply Jesus said, 'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: love your neighbour as yourself'

This focuses God as number ONE - what is my heart focussed on? To me that talks about my desires - what is it I really desire in life? Do my plans, my vision and my desire centre around the fact God has a plan for me and my desire is to follow His will and please Him in life? How often do I find my plans self centred and my desires all about my comfort and things I want...?

What about my will and my emotions?

Emotions are difficult things, they change, they blow hot and cold, happy and sad. We are poor if we allow ourselves to be ruled by our emotions, since they will never truly be satisfied by the things we can get and clutter our life with, or if we rely upon another person in the place of God.

God is the only one that I know never changes, never leaves us, loves and always cares... never fails... He has to be my number ONE.

I have found that in following Jesus I have always been aware of his will or His presence. If I am doing something right, it is because I have been inspired by him, I have read something in the Bible, the Word of God, which has helped me make a decision that I know is God's will. If I have been doing something wrong then I have known it has been wrong because my conscience nags me...

Listen to that still small voice within you, don't block it out. The Holy Spirit guides us with our conscience so that we can follow the path that pleases God - that which keeps Him at Number ONE place in our hearts.

Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God's place in your hearts.

It is a simple instruction really, but one to live our lives by.

Psalm 37 is full of promise, in particular it says, 'Take delight in the Lord and He will give you your hearts desires'.

So in a world and culture that says 'Consume me....you need me to be truly happy....You're worth it...you are number one...' don't give away the most important place in your life. If you find something is taking that position then push it away, make sure it doesn't take over.

Remember that position is already filled.

God our Heavenly Father, He is NUMBER ONE.

Love the LORD YOUR God with all you heart

With all your soul's strength

With all your mind...

Love Him with everything that is within you.

Don't let anything else take His place, Instead make Him your desire, and He will give you the desire of your heart. After all there is none like Him.

'Now He is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else - not only in this world but also in the world to come. God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made Him head over all things for the benefit of the church. And the church is His body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.'

Keep God in His place!