Have you ever found yourself yelling at an inanimate object, like a TV? I have a confession to make… I am a Kansas Jayhawks fan. I know, I know—some of you might now think I’m a heathen, but trust me, I cheer for all Kansas sports, and I will never be hostile toward another team or fan. Jesus has redeemed me in that area.
If you’re unaware, the Kansas men’s basketball team is one of my favorite teams to watch. And, by most loyal fans’ standards, they’re having an absolutely terrible season this year. There may have been a game not too long ago where my wife witnessed a new side of me—one that was emotionally and even physically affected—after the team blew a six-point lead with under 15 seconds left in the game.
The reason she hasn’t seen that side of me before is because the Lord, in His kindness, didn’t let her meet me until well into my twenties—years after He had been shaping me, growing me, maturing me, and giving me the fruits of the Spirit, including patience and self-control. Praise God she didn’t know me before that, because honestly, I don’t know if we would be married today! (I’m only slightly kidding.) But truly, I am grateful for how God has changed and molded me.
I think you’d agree that part of maturing and growing in the Lord is recognizing your desperate need for Him and the importance of keeping Him at the forefront of your life. But spiritual maturity isn’t just knowing that truth—it’s actually prioritizing Him above everything else.
Recently, I was talking with our high school guys’ small group about their priorities and the things that get in the way of spending time with the Lord. The list was exhaustingly long. But it’s true—so many things can distract us from making Jesus our number one priority. So, we came up with a simple but helpful tool to encourage them: writing out their top five priorities and numbering them in order. It’s nothing groundbreaking, but several of them have said that having a physical reminder of the spiritual reality of their lives has helped them move Jesus closer to number one.
When He is first in our lives, things change. We spend less time focused on ourselves and more time serving others. We stop making decisions on our own and start involving God more regularly. We spend less time yelling at sweaty men on a TV and more time lifting our hands in praise to the One who is undefeated.
Score: Death 0. Jesus 1. He’s never lost.
So, where are your priorities? Is Jesus truly #1? And if not, what do you need to do today to put Him there?
Pastor Bryant