Don’t put Jesus first
The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.
Colossians 1:15-18 (NIV)
You may have heard it said that when we set priorities for our lives it should go something like this: Jesus first, then our husband or wife, then our children, then our wider family, then our church, then our career, then perhaps our hobbies and leisure pursuits. That looks like a pretty good set of priorities, doesn’t it?
There is, however, a problem with this approach. When I put Jesus first, does it mean that I ignore or neglect my spouse, children, family, or church in order to spend more time with him? Putting Jesus first means we segregate the different priorities of life, and we end up removing Jesus from where we spend the majority of our time: with our family, at work, church, or in our down time.
Is there a better approach than putting Jesus first? In the header scripture above, Paul tells us that Jesus is first before and over everything, but he also says all things were created through and for him, that in him all things hold together, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. He then goes on to show that the goal of the cross was to reconcile all things to God through Jesus (v.20). This tells us that Jesus is the centre of all things, of everything, and in doing so, provides us with a radically different approach to life.
Rather than having Jesus first in your life, have Jesus at the centre of your life. This means that it is not Jesus, then your marriage, but Jesus in your marriage. Not Jesus, then your family, but Jesus at the centre of your family. Not Jesus, then your career, but Jesus in your career. Not Jesus, then your hobbies, but Jesus in your hobbies.
We will do a much better job at Jesus being preeminent in our lives if he is at the very centre of everything we are and everything we do. So, don’t put Jesus first! Have Jesus at the very centre of your life and allow him to permeate every part of it.
Prayer
Father, from the beginning to the end, everything revolves around your Son Jesus. In him we live and move and have our being. From my heart to my every deed, Jesus, be the centre. In your name we pray, Amen.
Study by Barry Robinson
About the writer:
Barry Robinson is a minister in Grace Communion International and Regional Pastor for Southern England.
Local congregation:
Grace Communion International central London
Indian YMCA
Mahatma Gandhi Hall
41 Fitzroy Square
London
W1T 6AQ
Local congregational contact:
Barry Robinson
Email: london@gracecom.church
Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church