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Kingdom Priorities

9/26/24 | The Weekly | by Eric Wakeling

    Dear Calvary Family,

    My wife, Bea, and I are heading to South Africa next Wednesday with some Calvary families to serve with Acres of Love and to have some fun visiting the country while we’re there. We will be delivering the backpacks and supplies that you all generously donated last month, visiting with the children, and seeing the incredible Forever Homes that Acres of Love provides for children orphaned or abandoned in South Africa.

    But packing for this trip also got me thinking about priorities. We can only pack 44 pounds in our suitcase because one of our flights is on a smaller plane. We will be gone for almost two weeks and will be in warm weather, cool weather, potential rain, safari dust, casual environments, classy environments, and playing with kiddos. We also are taking the second bag full of backpacks and school supplies. Therefore, we have to be thoughtful and intentional about prioritizing what we will bring. I probably can’t bring that fourth pair of shoes or my surfboard, unfortunately.

    Here at Calvary, we are in this sermon series right now called Kingdom Priorities and I think it’s been super helpful to consider the priorities that Jesus highlighted in this section of the Gospel of Luke.

    Jesus prioritized:

    • Authenticity over hypocrisy
    • Generosity
    • Dependence on the Father
    • Being ready for his Second Coming
    • Commitment to God over anything else in life
    • Accepting Jesus as Messiah
    • Repentance
    • People over policies
    • Faith
    • Humility

    What do you prioritize?

    It’s an important question, especially in this election season where everything and everyone seems to be screaming out for you to make them a priority, even over God. We need to be thoughtful and intentional and prayerful about what priorities we pursue each day.

    I always return to the Fruit of the Spirit. This is the fruit that God has said he values for our lives.

    “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” Galatians 5:22-23

    These are completely opposite of the selfish ambition, anger, hostility, quarreling, idolatry, and envy that the world wants us to pursue.

    So again, what do you prioritize and how does your life reflect that as you interact with God and people each day?

    I encourage you to spend some time in prayer to reflect and repent as needed.

    I look forward to continuing our series as we fully realize what Jesus prioritizes in his kingdom.

    May the Lord bless you and keep you,
    Eric Wakeling