As a little boy I didn’t like to wear shoes in the summer. In fact, most of the kids in our neighborhood didn’t wear shoes. But, going barefoot had the dangers of stepping on something sharp or…on a bee…ouch!

But I had a plan. I would follow my barefooted big brother and step in his steps. You guessed it, I got stung and he did not. That’s not fair. Mother told me this was going to happen…but I was too smart!

For many of us this is a reoccurring life strategy…and we wonder why things are not working out…why the pain? We try our human schemes with relationships, work, health, finances and even God. In all these areas God has given us instructions on how-to-walk through life. It begins with our priorities. Jesus clearly tells us what priorities should be in Matthew 22:37-40, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” 1. God is to be our number ONE Priority, over everything (family, work, fun…etc.) and 2. We are to love people, even the people we don’t like or agree with, as Jesus loves. But how?

Frist, it is impossible on our own. We must have the power & guidance of the Holy Spirit. Then we pray His Word, “Show me Your ways, Lord, teach me Your paths. Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long.” Psalm 25:4-5

Will we get a sting from time to time? Yep. This why Jesus gave us the Parable of the Lost Son in Luke 15:11-32. Verse 20 reveals our Heavenly Father’s heart, ““But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” No greater love can be found than God’s love for us.