John 3:3 English Standard Version (ESV) Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Read of the various stages of growth in Christ. Once we accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior we have entered into a new life, a new living arrangement. We have enter into a kingdom where Jesus Christ is the Lord of our lives.

There has been a comparison in the stages of birth and growth in the natural world and Kingdom living. We can understand our growth in the natural world and Kingdom living is very similar. The greatest difference is that we soon forget our life in the womb. Our old life memories linger with us and can often hinder Kingdom growth.

Philippians 3:12-13 English Standard Version

¹² Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. ¹³ Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,

Forgetting our past is not easy but it must not prevent us from looking forward. The initial goal upon entering into the Kingdom of God is to discover where we are in this new life.

2 Corinthians 5:17 English Standard Version (ESV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

We all are babes in Christ upon new birth. We can begin to compare kingdom living with being a baby and the baby in life is expected to do nothing more than eat and grow.

Our diet is the Word of God, His Word is life. Eat a healthy diet even if we do not like the taste.

It is good for us.

Isaiah 26:3 English Standard Version (ESV) You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

What was a priority at 15 years of age is far from the priorities of one 74 years of age. That is expected because maturity and wisdom alter our priorities more than anything. As we experience life and achieve one goal after another we learn what is achievable or vanity. Can we admit the vanity of our youth?

At what point do we accept that God’s priority has never changed? Do we understand God’s priority? Are we part of God’s priority? The answer to that last question has a twofold answer. If we are saved we are the object of His priority. If then we are given certain gifts we become the focal point of His priority.

Every gift of God is given with purpose and helps in one way or another to achieve His one priority.

God the Father’s one priority is to bring His Son Jesus Christ the bride of promise.

Once we understand God’s number one priority then we can see how we fit into His will for our life based on two things. The first and most important is our relationship and the second is our gifts given of God to serve.

How does God’s priority fit into this life we have? Is it our top priority? If our calling is evangelism it is different than if our gift is pastoral, or teaching, or prophetic. Each and every gift does two things. They glorify God and serve His priority, Christ’s bride. One is to call the bride, the others are to complete our growth in Christ.

We all must decide just how much God’s priority fits into our own life and our own priorities which will and do change over time.

Where are we now?