Word of the Week - Jesus at the Center
“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” John 14:6
As we approach Christmas, it’s easy to focus on almost everything but Jesus. That being said, Jesus is the singular reason for this Holiday Season. The question I always have to ask myself, especially in busy times of life is: where is Jesus placed in my life today? Pastor Chris reminded me last Sunday that Jesus can be present in our lives without actually being at the Center, which is His only proper place in our lives. You can watch the message at https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/media/12-14-2025.
PC used the nativity scene to set the context with Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the animals — all present. Without Jesus, these famous characters really don’t have a reason to be there. Jesus is truly the reason for Christmas and the Nativity. The bible is a love story with Jesus at the center of it all. God commands us to put Him at the center of our lives, so we can experience the abundant life He has for us. If we are not vigilant in our seeking of the Lord (abiding), we can easily find ourselves in a place where Jesus is in the picture but not at the center. When this happens in our lives, we can lose God’s power and anointing and miss God’s best for our lives. At the worst of times, we may fall into temptations and sin and open our flanks to the enemy of our soul. Many of the things that try to take the center are not bad things — they’re good gifts that become destructive when they take the place only Jesus can hold.
The following are a few areas that can easily take priority over Jesus in our lives:
Work is a gift, but it’s a terrible god. It provides purpose and provision, but when it becomes central, it creates pressure, steals rest, and turns identity into performance instead of belonging. I have personally struggled with this for most of my working life. I can easily get so focused on achieving vision and goals that I place too much weight on what I do and achieve verses who I am in Christ. I have to make a conscious effort every morning first thing to recenter my identity in Christ and remember my life purpose. To know, love and serve Jesus and do what He has called me to do. “In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to those he loves.” (Psalm 127:2)
Money promises security, but never fully delivers. When wealth sits at the center, contentment always feels just out of reach. As a CEO and business owner where financial return is a meaningful part of the score card, it is extremely important that I keep this in the proper context and order. I have found one of the greatest antidotes for this is stewardship; remembering that God is our provider and owns it all. He gives and can take away. Giving and generosity are also a great way to keep things in perspective. “Command those who are rich in this present world not to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God.” (1 Timothy 6:17)
Pleasure makes life enjoyable, but it was never meant to fulfill us. When our hobbies, entertainment or comfort become too central, they leave us empty and drained. The Lord Jesus is truly the source of all of our blessings and the giver of the gifts of life. We find peace, fulfillments, and joy in Christ and in Him we can enjoy the gifts and blessings life. We must always remember that as followers of Jesus, God blesses us so we can be a blessing and glorify God. He allows us to enjoy our blessings, but this is not the primary purpose of our blessings. “He richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves for the coming age, so they will take hold of the life that is truly life”. (1 Timothy 6:17-19)
Family is a blessing, but it was never meant to be our source. When relationships take the center, expectations become unrealistic and pressure replaces trust. I think we can all relate with our tendency to make family relationships to high a priority in our lives. It is easy to get things out of order, especially when it comes to our children. The greatest gift we can give our spouse, kids, grandkids, and broader family is a life fully devoted to Christ. God promises us that if we seek Jesus first and His divine order we will be blessed and have the capacity to love and serve our family and others well. “Seek first the Kingdom and His righteousness and all things will be added to us” (Matthew 6:33) “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.” (Psalm 127:1)
Here’s the simple and sobering truth that I was reminded of again this week: my life will never fully make sense until Jesus is at the center of it all. When Jesus is first and center, everything else finds its proper place. Life may not be perfect, but it will be ordered — and what’s set up right begins to work right. As we step into Christmas and approach the New Year this is an invitation to reorder, not just reflect. To move Jesus from being included to being central. To trust Him — not partially, but fully — with every area of our lives. With divine order comes divine blessing!
Reflection / Challenge: What currently sits at the center of my decisions, my stress, my schedule, and my sense of security? And what would need to shift this week for Jesus to truly be first?
Prayer: Jesus, we acknowledge You as the way, the truth, and the life, and we invite You to be at the center of everything we do. Forgive us for the areas where good things have taken a place only You are meant to hold. As we step into Christmas, realign our hearts, our priorities, and our decisions around You, and help us trust that when You are first, everything else will find its proper place. We surrender every area of our lives to You again today. Amen.
I pray you have a blessed Christmas with Jesus at the center and experience the “life that is truly life” in Christ!