Priorities Archives - Faith Lutheran Church, Wesley Chapel

Kurt Steinbrueck June 26, 2020

Blog Eternal Life, Priorities

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Missing the Point

“For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” – Matthew 16:25

What is the focus of your life?

I sometimes watch the show, “Beastmaster” on Netflix. My daughter got me watching it. It’s an obstacle course show where men and women score points by completing parts of the course. It takes a lot of skill and strength.

Along the course, there are point boosters. These are buttons the contestants can push to get an extra few points. Some point boosters are no-brainers. They are easy to hit and get you more points. Others, however, can be very difficult to get to.

We’ve watched as some contestants spend a lot of time and strength trying to get to a point booster only to wear themselves out and fall, ending their run. They got so focused on getting the extra 5 or 10 points, that they missed out on getting a lot more points by completing the course. They missed the point.

This Life or That?
Sometimes we get so focused on getting the point boosters of life, that we miss the real point. We pursue all kinds of things that won’t truly last and can forget the eternal blessings of God.

It’s not that these earthly things are necessarily bad. After all, in our passage today, Jesus is talking about trying to save our earthly lives. Generally, we would say saving our earthly life is good. However, if it comes at the cost of denying Christ and losing our eternal life, it’s a bad deal. We’re missing the point.

We don’t typically face the decision between our earthly life and our eternal life, but we face the decision between pursuing things of God or things of man. The things of man aren’t inherently bad (money, power, fame, etc.), many godly people have had them. However, if we pursue them at the cost of eternal things, its’ a bad deal. We’re missing the point.

Let’s pursue the things of God.

Heavenly Father,

Give us the eyes to see what is truly important and the discipline to pursue it.

Amen.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

Kurt Steinbrueck May 27, 2020

Blog Gospel, jesus, Priorities, Values

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Nothing Worth More

“But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” – Acts 20:24

How much does your faith mean to you?

This is a tough question. On the one hand, it can be good and cause us to re-examine our priorities. Take a couple of minutes to think/talk through these questions?

How do I spend my time?
How often do I read the Bible or pray?
When did I last talk to someone about Jesus?
Do I serve others?
Is church/worship a priority?
How do I spend the money God has given me?

For Paul, he wanted to share the Gospel with people and nothing else was as valuable as that.

What about the other hand?

Before I said, “On the one hand…” So, what about the other hand? Here you go.

On the other hand, questions like, “How much does your faith mean to you?” can lead us down the path of works-righteousness and either pride or depression. We have to remember the position that Paul was speaking from. He was one called by Christ and redeemed by the blood of Jesus through faith.

Paul isn’t speaking as one hoping to saved or desperate to keep his salvation. He is speaking as someone who knows that Jesus died for him, forgave him, and calls him a child of God. He is speaking as one secure in the knowledge that his salvation is not dependent on how well he lives out his faith, but rather the gift of faith that came from God.

This isn’t a message of pride that his life is so valuable because of what he does for God, quite the opposite. He realizes he has nothing to offer. This is a message of realizing what is truly valuable in life., the gifts that God has given through Jesus Christ.

Grounded in the Gospel
So, while you think about the questions above, think about them in light of the Gospel. It’s not, “I have to.” It’s, “I get to.” What amazing gifts God has given you through His Son both in what you have received and the opportunities you now have.

Heavenly Father,

There’s nothing worth more than You. I could never give enough to have what You give, but thankfully, You give it freely. Open my eyes to Your gifts that I may live in them.

Amen.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

Kurt Steinbrueck March 6, 2020

Blog Focus, Priorities, Set Your Heart on God, Time

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So, Whatcha Up To, Today?

whatcha up to, today?

“These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” – Deuteronomy 6:6-7

What do you focus on?

What takes up a lot of time in your day?

We have a lot of things vying for our time. Generally, you can tell what is most important to you by what you spend your time on. Do you spend your time working? Do you make time for your family? Do you spend time in nature?

But, I don’t have time!

People often talk about things they wish they could do…if they only had time. The truth is, though, that they usually do have time. They are just spending it doing something else.

I used to go hiking and camping several times a year. Now, however, I don’t think I’ve done either for years with the exception of my family’s summer vacation. Sometimes I lament that I don’t have time to do it. However, it struck me the other day as I saw on Facebook yet another hiking trip a friend was going on. I realized that it wasn’t that I didn’t have time, it’s that I chose to use my time in other ways.

How do you spend your time?

I may not be hiking much, but that’s not to say that what I spend my time on is bad. They are, at least mostly, good things. So, it’s not necessarily a question of good against bad. It’s often a question of what is most important to you.

Here’s Moses is telling Israel (and God telling us) that God should be foremost on our minds and saturate our time. It’s not that we can’t do other things, but God should be a part of them. We should also always look for ways to spend time with Him in Word and prayer and talk about Him with others, especially our kids.

In the end, all the other good things we do will perish. Only God is eternal. The time we spend with Him and sharing Him with others will have eternal consequences.

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the many good things You have blessed me with. Help me, however, not to get lost in all these good things and forget to spend time with You. Help me not only to set time aside to be with You but to see You in all the things I do and to talk about You in all the things I do.

Amen.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

Kurt Steinbrueck March 2, 2020

Blog Priorities

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What Is Most Important in Your Life

What is most important in your life?

“Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.” – Psalm 73:25-26

What would you most like to have?

What is most important in your life?

Between the media, other people, and our own minds, we have a lot vying to be high on our priority list.

Do you want a big house?
Do you need the new iPhone?
Do you want a spouse?
What would you add here?

What do we really need, though? God.

That’s it. He loves us, saves us, sustains us, forgives us, renews us, and provides for us. That’s what the Psalmist is expressing. Our only hope for heaven is Jesus. Even here on earth, nothing compares. Everything will fail, even our own bodies, but God will never fail. He is our strength and all we ever need.

Jesus said it like this,

“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” – Matthew 6:31-33

The trick is realizing that trusting God with our lives is the best thing we can do for ourselves and others.

Take a few minutes to examine your life and priorities.

Heavenly Father,

You give me all I need. Help me to place my hope in You. Help me to seek first Your Kingdom. Help me to trust that You will provide.

Amen.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

Kurt Steinbrueck January 9, 2020

Blog Priorities, Store up treasures in heaven

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It’s All Commercialism, Charlie Brown

It's all commercialism, charlie brown

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.” – Matthew 6:19-20

We just finished up the Christmas season. If you watched the second Charlie Brown Christmas Special, you’ll remember that it was lamenting the commercialism of the modern Christmas celebration. It’s all about stuff.

This isn’t just a Christmas issue. The push for us to get more stuff, bigger stuff, and more expensive stuff is a staple of our culture. It’s easy to get swept up in it. As Christ-followers, it’s important to check yourself from time to time.

What is most important to you?

Are you more concerned with your TV and car or with your faith and spiritual growth? Are you more concerned that your neighbors hear about your promotion or your salvation?

Jesus tells us to treasure the gifts of God. These are things like His Word, worship, prayer, Christian fellowship and love. God has given us many gifts, including forgiveness and our salvation. That’s a big deal and should not get old to us.

Everything else will eventually disappear. The car will breakdown. The house will crumble. You will lose your job or retire. However, the things of God are eternal. His love and grace will not end. His Word will always be effective. His sacraments will always bring faith and forgiveness. Your neighbor’s conversion will give them eternal life.

So, let’s take a few minutes for a gut check. Where do you spend your time, money, and resources? What do you center your life around?

Are there some ways you need to shift what you treasure?

Heavenly Father,

You give all good gifts, including gifts which are eternal, treasures in heaven. Help us to focus on what matters, on what is eternal and keep the worldly treasures in their proper place.

Amen.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

The Other Six

How To Use These Posts
The Other Six is a short, daily devotional blog post. You can use these posts for personal devotions, however, I’m also going to write them in such a way that you could use them for family devotions. I’ll include a Bible verse, questions and/or discussion points, and a closing prayer. I highly encourage you to do these devotions with your family or friends if possible.
Enjoy!

Priorities

Missing the Point

Missing the Point

Nothing Worth More

Nothing Worth More

So, Whatcha Up To, Today?

whatcha up to, today?

What Is Most Important in Your Life

What is most important in your life?

It’s All Commercialism, Charlie Brown

It's all commercialism, charlie brown

The Other Six

Faith Lutheran Church in Wesley Chapel, FL serving Lutz, Zephyrhills, Land O’ Lakes, and New Tampa, FL