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Put Jesus in the Place of Preeminence (March 13, 2023)

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)

We all want to be loved, appreciated, and esteemed by our families, friends, associates, and neighbors. After all, we’re social creatures who need the acceptance of fellow human beings. While the people with whom we interact socially, even our dearest loved ones, sometimes let us down and our feelings toward one another are subject to change, we can be absolutely sure that God places such great value on us as individuals that he created no two of us alike. Uniquely crafted in His own image, the LORD loves each of us more than the finite human mind can grasp. He is a faithful, trustworthy God whom we can depend upon. That fact of human history was never more evident than when Jesus went to the cross to free us from the grips of sin and spiritual death and to give us the hope of salvation and everlasting life. When our Savior suffered and died to atone for our sins, Christ put us above Himself—you and me, above all! 

Just as the Son of God went to Calvary with each of us foremost in His mind, we should purpose to put Him first in our lives. However, many misguided people fail to give God the place of prominence that He deserves. Fickle worldly idols such as wealth, sex, power, fame, and material possessions—all of which may bring temporary pleasure but no lasting value—often take precedence over the development of a life-changing, eternally-rewarding relationship with the One who can fill the void crafted into every human heart and reserved solely for Christ. Lasting peace and deep contentment are felt only when we put Jesus first, allowing Him to live in us through the power of the Holy Spirit. The LORD of lords and KING of kings alone is worthy of that one place of preeminence in our hearts and lives. When our priorities are rightly ordered, we are empowered to love and serve one another above ourselves and Christ above all! 

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.  For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible…All things were created through Him and for Him.  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 1:15-18) 

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