DAY 1 — WHO IS AT THE CENTER?
DAY 1 — WHO IS AT THE CENTER?
READ Colossians 1:15–18
“Everything was created through him and for him.” — Colossians 1:16
DEVOTIONAL
One of the oldest surviving maps of the world is a small clay tablet made roughly 2,600 years ago. The people who made it mapped everything they knew—the land, the water, even mysterious places beyond the edge of their explored world.
And right in the middle?
Babylon.
They put themselves at the center.
We still do the same thing.
We may not draw maps on clay tablets, but each of us carries an invisible map of our life. On it are our family, career, relationships, dreams, responsibilities, problems, finances, plans and future.
And naturally, we put ourselves in the middle.
Then somewhere along the way, we discover Jesus.
So we add Him to the map.
Maybe He becomes very important. We attend church. We pray. We read Scripture. We want Him involved in our marriage, our parenting and our decisions.
But Paul makes a much bigger claim about Jesus in Colossians 1.
Jesus doesn't simply belong somewhere on the map.
He belongs at the center.
Paul says Jesus existed before everything. Everything was created through Him and for Him. He holds everything together. He is supreme over creation and the head of the church.
In other words, Jesus isn't asking to become one more important part of your life.
He is the One your entire life was created to revolve around.
That's a significant shift.
Instead of asking, “Jesus, how do You fit into what I'm trying to accomplish?” we begin asking, “Jesus, what are You doing, and how does my life fit into it?”
Instead of asking God to bless our map, we hand Him the map.
And here's the beautiful part: getting ourselves out of the center isn't bad news.
It's freedom.
You were never meant to carry the weight of making everything work. The center is already occupied by Someone far more capable of holding it together.
Jesus.
REFLECT
PRAY
Jesus, I confess how naturally I put myself at the center. I want You involved in my plans, but sometimes I struggle to surrender those plans to You. Today, remind me that my life was created through You and for You. Take Your rightful place at the center and teach me to build my life around You. Amen.
TODAY'S STEP
Before making a decision today, pause and ask: “Jesus, what do You want here?”
READ Colossians 1:15–18
“Everything was created through him and for him.” — Colossians 1:16
DEVOTIONAL
One of the oldest surviving maps of the world is a small clay tablet made roughly 2,600 years ago. The people who made it mapped everything they knew—the land, the water, even mysterious places beyond the edge of their explored world.
And right in the middle?
Babylon.
They put themselves at the center.
We still do the same thing.
We may not draw maps on clay tablets, but each of us carries an invisible map of our life. On it are our family, career, relationships, dreams, responsibilities, problems, finances, plans and future.
And naturally, we put ourselves in the middle.
Then somewhere along the way, we discover Jesus.
So we add Him to the map.
Maybe He becomes very important. We attend church. We pray. We read Scripture. We want Him involved in our marriage, our parenting and our decisions.
But Paul makes a much bigger claim about Jesus in Colossians 1.
Jesus doesn't simply belong somewhere on the map.
He belongs at the center.
Paul says Jesus existed before everything. Everything was created through Him and for Him. He holds everything together. He is supreme over creation and the head of the church.
In other words, Jesus isn't asking to become one more important part of your life.
He is the One your entire life was created to revolve around.
That's a significant shift.
Instead of asking, “Jesus, how do You fit into what I'm trying to accomplish?” we begin asking, “Jesus, what are You doing, and how does my life fit into it?”
Instead of asking God to bless our map, we hand Him the map.
And here's the beautiful part: getting ourselves out of the center isn't bad news.
It's freedom.
You were never meant to carry the weight of making everything work. The center is already occupied by Someone far more capable of holding it together.
Jesus.
REFLECT
- If someone looked at how you spend your time, energy and attention, what would they conclude is at the center of your life?
- Where have you included Jesus without actually surrendering control to Him?
- What would change if Jesus truly became the center of your “map”?
PRAY
Jesus, I confess how naturally I put myself at the center. I want You involved in my plans, but sometimes I struggle to surrender those plans to You. Today, remind me that my life was created through You and for You. Take Your rightful place at the center and teach me to build my life around You. Amen.
TODAY'S STEP
Before making a decision today, pause and ask: “Jesus, what do You want here?”
Posted in Daily Devotional