The Proper Place for Jesus Christ

Without a doubt you have heard the following saying: “Family comes first.” Maybe you have heard some in recent times say, “Put yourself first.” These statements come in various forms, but they all teach us about our priorities. For most people, both sayings we have shared are the sum of their priorities in life. They are like the tongue-in-cheek joke shared by a preacher from the past that says, “Lord, bless me and my wife, Joe and his wife, that’s four no more. Amen.” To them, all that matters is their own status and that of the people in their immediate circle. Their highest calling is simply to benefit themselves. They would surely protest if they were labelled as selfish or self-centered, yet their actions speak far louder than any words could.

While it is not wrong to prioritize your family and even your own wellbeing at times, there must be One who holds greater sway than anyone, or anything, else. It is God’s intent that we make His Son Jesus the One who holds that sway. Consider the following inspired statement:

“And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence” (Colossians 1:17-18).
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After reading that text, can you see any room for exalting someone or something above Jesus? If you go back to verses fifteen and sixteen, you quickly discover that Jesus is the One through whom the Father created the universe! Could anyone be more significant and consequential than Jesus? We would not even exist were it not for Jesus. Furthermore, we would have no avenue of restoration to God were it not for Him. No wonder the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write what he did. Truly Jesus must be preeminent, or first, in the hearts and lives of those who follow Him.

What then is the problem? Why are so-called Christians hasty to exalt everything but Jesus to the first place in their lives? Part of the dilemma is the sad reality that for many Christians, Jesus is but a small fraction of their lives. Make no mistake: they attend worship, they read the Scriptures, and they offer prayers. At day’s end, however, their faith does not define who they are. It is a convenient tool they can unpack and use when they deem it necessary, but otherwise, it is kept locked away. They prefer to be identified by their wealth, prestige in the community, family heritage, and everything else except for the Lord. Jesus is just a nice-to-have role model they can call upon in distress and neglect in times of ease. Like the hypocrites in Ezekiel’s day, they love to hear about Jesus but refuse to follow His ways (Ezekiel 33:30-33).

Friends, we must ensure Jesus occupies the first place in our lives. We cannot afford to give that place to another. Now is the time to exalt Him to His proper place. How can we make this a reality in our lives?

• We should seek the things of heaven where King Jesus resides (Colossians 3:1). The seeking of which Paul speaks is not just casually browsing through a magazine rack at the grocery store. It is a diligent, zealous pursuit for the ways of Jesus that will lead us to live with Him forever.
• We should focus our minds on heaven, not on the earth (Colossians 3:2). Surely many brethren have fallen by the wayside because they desired what this life offered more than what Jesus does. It is critical that we not forget the admonition of the apostle John to not love the world nor what is in it (1 John 2:15-17).
• We should remember that Jesus is not merely part of our lives; He is life (Colossians 3:3-4). We are not truly alive apart from Jesus. In His life, Jesus clearly stated He would provide abundant life to those who followed Him (John 10:10). That is not some prosperity gospel propaganda; rather, it is a reality that disciples of Jesus have hope and help in Him. It is also important to note that Jesus will return and bring us home with Him on that glorious day. Why would we want to miss out on the abundant life now and the glories of eternal life in the future?

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There remains only one question for you: does Jesus occupy the first place in your life? If not, then get to work putting Jesus in His proper place in your life. Let us all give these ideas some thought.