The Elephant And The Ant- Titus 1:16

They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work - Titus 1:16

I used to play a game with my children when they were small. I’d draw a picture of an animal and then write the wrong name of it underneath. If I drew, say, an ant, I would write “elephant” underneath it. They would then laugh and correct me. We had fun with the ridiculous names I would write under different animals. I see much the same deliberate misnomers at work today when people deny the true nature of God. They describe God as the see Him . . . on their terms rather than the way he describes Himself in holy Scripture. But there’s nothing funny at play when people deny the true attributes of God. This should be as sobering as a splash of cold water in one’s face. - “If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us.” - 2 Timothy 2:12.
When we describe God on our own terms we essentially deny both His holiness and His sovereignty. We deliberately exhibit our sinful pride as we attribute to God those traits and qualities they we find most appealing to our human desires. Rather than exhibiting the reverent fear of the Lord as Isaiah did we exhibit the arrogance of the Pharisees. As for such people, God often hardens the hearts rather then sending the Holy Spirit to indwell it. “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting . . . .” - Romans 1:28. The reason for God’s holy wrath is also clear from scripture - “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.” - Romans 1:18-19. God has manifested His attributes to us all. To deny them and ascribe to Him our own subjective traits is a direct assault on His character and will not go unpunished. .  “But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” - Matthew 10:33.  Let us never attempt to redefine the standards of our holy and sovereign of God.

Endless Possibilities - Luke 18:26

“And those who heard it said, ‘Who then can be saved?’” - Luke 18:26

How often I have heard unbelievers respond negatively to the outward call of God. It seems they object to the possibility of their own salvation on two fronts: (1) They don’t know “how” to achieve it, and (2) they simply cannot fathom the power of grace. In a word, most feel it would require some works related scenario for them to “find God.” This is perhaps one of the most perplexing issues facing us as evangelists - we have a group of unbelievers who can’t understand what must be done to be saved and when we tell them that it is by the grace of God through the atonement of Jesus Christ they look at us as though we had two heads! So how do we solve the conundrum? We could use some template for salvation similar to “the Graham Formula”: ( Sermon+Counseling+Follow Up = Decision = Born Again Decision), but that would be disingenuous and a lie. I believe that Dr. Sinclair Ferguson said best -  “The remedy for a culture that will not listen to the preaching of the word is to preach the word.” And it is in that preaching of the word that our audience will find the true road to salvation. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” - Ephesians 2:8-9.  God will open the hearts of those whom He has deemed to be saved, not because of anything they have done but because of His own pleasure. In their inability to understand the grace and love of God they need to be given God’s own words on the subject of “how” they can be saved - “But He said, ‘The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.’” - Luke 18:27
Think of someone who we wouldn’t necessarily consider “saved.” Is he or she any worse than we were before the grace of God overwhelmed us in our sin and regenerated our lives? When we think of salvation, wasn’t the thief on the cross next to Christ saved? “Then he said to Jesus, ‘Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.’” - Luke 23: 42-43. And what of the likes of Saul of Tarsus, a persecutor of Christians. Through the grace of God he too was saved. As for myself I know if He saved me; he can save anyone. There is no one above the grace of God.

Putting God First - Matthew 6:33

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. - Matthew 6:33

Do we not all sometimes wonder and fret about fulfilling our needs? Will there be enough at the end of the month to carry us comfortably over into the next? In fact, how often are our anxieties more about our desires than our needs? However, if this is not the case and it is the pressures of meeting our financial responsibilities then perhaps we need revisit those “first works” we performed as fledgling believers.
Anxiety can eat at our faith like rust eats the hull of the strongest ship. It especially eats at our peace of mind. Whenever we worry we must remember the words of our Lord and Savior - “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” - Matthew 11:28-30.
In our title verse, exactly what “things” was Christ referring to? Those things are needs common to all men: what to eat, drink and clothe ourselves with; still the common concerns of all mankind. But Christ informed His disciples to first seek the kingdom and righteousness of God . . .and all these “things” would be added.
Charles Spurgeon once said, “The blessings of this life come . . . by Divine Promise.” God has never broken His promises to man. But it is incumbent upon us to put God first in our lives if we are to enjoy His promises to us. We all remember the fervency with which we first devoted ourselves to Him. Do our passions for Him still burn brightly in our hearts or have they faded along with our trust? “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.” - Revelation 2:5. Let us all remember the burning desire for Christ that filled our hearts when we first believed. Let us stop our worrying since worrying has never solved a single problem.  “And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest?” -  Luke 12:25-26.
As we put God first in our lives He shall add all these other things to our lives. His word is truth.
“Oh, send out Your light and Your truth! Let them lead me; let them bring me to Your holy hill and to Your tabernacle.” - Psalm 43:3. Put God first!