The Lord Comes First

As we continue to focus on renewal, strive to turn your heart so that the Lord comes to have first place in everything. Paul presents this powerfully in Colossians 1:18, “He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.” There it is: “first place in everything.” Jesus Christ is the preeminent Person in the universe: He is the Person who came to earth to suffer and die. He is One who has loved and given Himself for the body. He is the One who died to establish the church. He is the one whom God has made the preeminent and supreme Majesty of the universe. He is the one in whom God’s fullness dwells.

It has been said, “If Jesus Christ is not Lord of all, He cannot be Lord at all.” Indeed, he is presented only as Lord of all and over all. What does this mean for us? Should it not mean that Jesus Christ should have…

• First-place in our families.
• First-place in our marriages.
• First-place in our professions.
• First-place in our mission.
• First place in our ministry.
• First-place in time.
• First-place in love.
• First-place in conversation.
• First-place in pleasures.
• First-place in recreations.

What does this mean for us? Simply this: “that in everything he might have the supremacy.” He is the Creator and Sustainer of life. He is the Savior and Redeemer of our souls. He is the Lord and Owner of our lives. He deserves to have first place in everything. We will not be renewed or revived until we allow his supremacy to reign in our lives.