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One of the most well-known verses in the Bible is John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Even people who have never been to church recognize it. You’ll see it on signs at football games, written on posters in crowds, shared on social media, printed on shirts, and referenced in conversations around the world. John 3:16 resonates with so many people because it clearly reveals God’s love and His plan to save humanity through Jesus Christ.

I don’t think there is anything more important than receiving salvation. Each one of us must personally decide to believe in Jesus and accept Him as Lord and Savior. Those who are born again are promised the gift of eternal life with God. John 3:3 - Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 

This is the only qualification for going to heaven. However, in today’s religious world, we have sometimes muddled the message by adding requirements that make the path to eternity with God seem unclear. People often suggest that you must perform certain actions, follow specific procedures, or maintain perfect church attendance.

The most important thing has always been simple. We see from the Gospels that when Jesus selected people to follow Him, He did not check their resumes to see how they were performing; He simply asked them to follow Him. It was their choice and their decision.

Look at what He said to Matthew (or Levi, as he is called here): Luke 5:27-28 - After these things He went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he left all, rose up, and followed Him. 

Matthew decided to follow, and it changed his life. We have the same decision to make. It is interesting to consider that if you surveyed 100 people today and asked if they believe in God or Jesus, many would say yes. But believing in Him is not necessarily the same as following Him. God is looking for more so that, as we follow Him, we become more like Him.

I have been saved most of my life. I grew up knowing God, and I am very thankful for that. I was always taught to put God first in my life, and I believe that is a good practice. We should be quick to pray, listen closely when He speaks, and obey promptly when He leads us. Making God a priority is vital.

As we look at the scriptures, following God is about more than just giving Him first place. "First place" often refers to our actions, what we do for God, and how we manage our relationship with Him. As humans, we tend to focus on "doing." Many religions focus heavily on these tasks as the primary way to serve God.

Just as Jesus called His first disciples, He wasn't primarily interested in what they could do for Him; He was interested in their hearts and their potential to become like Him. That is why He said, "Follow Me," rather than just "Believe in Me." He invited them to come learn, get to know Him, and be transformed.

We need to move beyond just putting God in first place and make Him the center of our lives. When He is "first," the focus is often on our performance; when He is the "center," the focus is on the relationship. Make God the center of your life. Let everything revolve around who He is. Know Him as your Lord and Savior, but also be a true follower, becoming like Him in every way.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I am so grateful that You loved me and sent Your Son to pay the price so I could have a relationship with You. I thank You for the promise of eternal life. Thank You for choosing me, not because of what I have or haven’t done, but because You want me to follow You. Lord, help me to make You the center of my life. Help me not only to give You first place, but also to focus on my relationship with You and to become like You in every way. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.