Jesus First - The Crosswalk Devotional - May 27
Jesus First
By Alexis A. Goring
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”—Matthew 6:33 NKJV
One afternoon, while scrolling through my newsfeed on social media, I saw a coffee cup with the words “But first, coffee.”
It made me think of other sayings: “But first, Jesus” and “Mornings are better when you talk to God first.” Just like most coffee lovers need a cup to start their day, we should never begin the morning without first talking to Jesus Christ. So why is it so important to start our day with God and continue the conversation?
The battle between good and evil rages around us every day in the spiritual realm that we cannot see. The manifestations of this warfare in the physical realm are evident every time we watch the news and hear stories of suffering and pain. However, there is hope! As Christians, it’s important to remember that this world is not our home. God taught me years ago that this Earth is temporary, which means our pain is temporary too. We have Heaven to look forward to and it’s a perfect place free of sorrow and sin.
But while we’re here on this planet, we need to survive. And the key to not only surviving but thriving is having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We need to put Him first when we wake up in the morning. Instead of reaching for our phone, we should pick up the Bible and read His Word. We’re welcome to brew a pot of coffee while we read this life-changing book. Some people even set a table for two and invite Jesus Christ to be seated in the chair across from them as they pour their cup of coffee, open their Bible and read. They may pause to ask God questions and, before they conclude their study time, they sit in silence, inviting the Lord to speak before they go about their day.
I know that when I have spent adequate quiet time in Bible study and prayer, God speaks! He also sends me messages to share with other people. On several occasions, I’ve shared a study note from my Bible with loved ones and they immediately responded saying that message was exactly when they needed to hear and it arrived right on time. Each time that happens, I give all glory and credit to God because I know that it didn’t come from my own mind. It was a message from God’s heart to me and then to the people He told me to share it with. This experience encouraged me to spend more time in Bible study and prayer every morning and night because I don’t want to miss a message from God. I also don’t want to hold back on someone else’s blessing that comes with sharing God’s Word.
When we put Jesus first, He gives us everything we need to face the day. When we continue the conversation with Him, He gives us His peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7). As we present our challenges and frustrations, He gives us the grace and strength we need to overcome those obstacles. And as we trust Him to order our steps, He orchestrates every detail of our time. We can trust God with our heart and soul. We can rely on Him to guide us through every aspect of our journey.
My challenge for you (and me) today is to put Jesus first, then watch Him work! Right before we check our phones, reach for our Bible. Talk to God while you drink your morning coffee. Spend time in nature and observe God’s creation. Look up toward Heaven and think of your future home. Pray a blessing over the people in your life. Say grace before eating food.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
Have you tried putting Jesus first? When you start your day with Jesus, how does it affect your experience?
Further Reading:
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Matthew 22:37
Hebrews 12:2
Colossians 3:1-4
Revelation 2:4
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Wang Xi
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