Introduction

Welcome, dear friends, to this sacred gathering. It is a joy and a privilege to be in fellowship once more, to share in the Word and the wonder of our Lord. As we gather in this place of worship, we are reminded of the words of the great Martin Luther, who once said, "I have so many things to do today I dare not ignore my time with God."

Indeed, we are travelers, and the path we tread is not always an easy one. There are moments of joy and moments of sorrow, moments of triumph and moments of defeat. But the beauty of our faith is that we do not walk this path alone. We have a guide, a beacon of light in the darkness, and that is our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Prioritizing the Presence of God

In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, it's all too easy to get caught up in the demands of the world. We rush from one task to another, always looking ahead to what's next, always striving to achieve more, to be more. But in our pursuit of worldly success, we often lose sight of what truly matters. We forget that our true purpose, our true calling, is not to accumulate wealth or status, but to live in communion with our Creator.

When Jesus tells us to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, He is essentially telling us to prioritize our relationship with God above all else. He is telling us to make God the center of our lives, to make His presence our highest priority.

So, what does it mean to prioritize God's presence? It means to make time for Him each and every day. Carve out moments where we can quiet our minds and open our hearts to His voice. It means to immerse ourselves in His Word, to meditate on His teachings, and to strive to live out those teachings in our daily lives.

It's also about seeing God in the world around us. Recognize His hand in the beauty of nature, in the kindness of a stranger, in the laughter of a child. It's about acknowledging His presence in every moment, in every breath, in every heartbeat.

But, the world is full of distractions, full of temptations that can pull us away from God. The more we practice the art of presence, the more we cultivate an awareness of God's presence, the easier it becomes to resist these distractions. The easier it becomes to stay focused on what truly matters.

In seeking first His kingdom and His righteousness, we are also called to live in accordance with His will. This means striving to embody the values and virtues that He holds dear. Living by God's will is really about aligning our hearts and our actions with the heart of God.

Pursuing Purpose through God

Amid life's hustle and bustle, it is easy to lose sight of our true purpose ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO