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fomerly known as the World Wide Church of God

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Water for the Thirsty

Weekly Devotional
Alpine Scene ‘As the deer pants for streams of water so my soul pants for you, O God’. (Psalm 42:1)
‘…Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink”…’ (John 7:37)

Don’t Put Jesus First

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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)

Have you ever heard it said that when we set the 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 career
  • Then perhaps our hobbies and leisure pursuits
  • Etc. Etc. Etc.

That looks like a pretty good set of priorities doesn’t it?

There is, however, a problem with this approach. Does it mean that to put Jesus first, before my wife, children and family that I ignore them 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, or in our down time.

Is there a better approach than putting Jesus first?

In the above passage from Colossians 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, and 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 Himself (V.20).

This tells me that Jesus is the centre of all things, of everything, and provides me with a radically different approach to life.

Rather than have Jesus first in my life, I have Jesus at the centre of my life. This means that it is not Jesus then my marriage; but Jesus in my marriage. Not Jesus, then my family; but Jesus in my family. Not Jesus, then my career; but Jesus in my career. Not Jesus then my hobbies; but Jesus in my hobbies.

We will do a much better job at giving Jesus pre-eminence in our lives if he is at the very centre of everything we are and everything we do.

Why not take some time to meditate on the words of Michael Frye’s hymn, ‘Jesus be the Centre’?

Jesus, be the centre
Be my source, be my light
Jesus

Jesus, be the centre
Be my hope, be my song
Jesus

Jesus, be my vision
Be my path, be my guide
Jesus

Be the fire in my heart
Be the wind in these sails
Be the reason that I live
Jesus, Jesus

Don’t put Jesus first! Have Jesus at the very centre of your life and allow him to permeate everything.

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.
Amen.

Have a good week with Jesus at the centre.

Pastor Barry