Dr. David Seamands was a professor at Asbury Theological Seminary. He told about a strange ad that appeared in a small town’s newspaper in Scotland several years ago.
A large notice was on the front page of the paper. The notice said, “Please turn to the back page.” But when you turned to the back page, you discovered that the page was empty. It was all white space.
Nearly all white space. In the lower right hand corner, in small print these words were found: “Is this where you are putting God?” On the back page, in the corner, behind everything else, hidden away. Is this where you are putting God?
Denzel Washington is one of my favorite actors. He starred in such movies as “The Equalizer,” “Training Day,” “Flight,” “Man on Fire,” “The Book of Eli.”
His father was a Baptist pastor. Denzel Washington spoke to the graduating class at Dillard University in New Orleans a couple of years ago. He said to the students very simply and directly, “Put God first. Put God in everything that you do.” Wise advice. Put God first. (“Good News Magazine,” July/August 2015, page 8)
It makes a big difference when our priorities are right. Jesus said it like this in the most famous sermon ever preached, “Seek first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness . . .” (Matthew 6:33)
Just imagine for a moment what a life-changing adventure that would be for our lives today, to really put God in first place.