First Things
Scripture Reading: Psalm 67; Proverbs 1-5; 1 Corinthians 15
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: That Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures… - 1 Corinthians 15:3 -
Years ago, I used to subscribe to a magazine called First Things. It leaned Catholic in perspective and was sometimes written at a level a bit higher than I could follow. But I enjoyed it anyway. Even today, if I come across a copy, I can’t help but pick it up and thumb through it.
One thing I always admired was the name: First Things. Short. Simple. But weighty. The name came from the idea that religion ought to be foundational in life, that society itself should be ordered by it. In other words, putting first things first.
Paul does something similar in 1 Corinthians 15. But instead of talking broadly about religion, he drills down to the heart of it: the gospel. Of all the truths, debates, and concerns that swirl around us, Paul says there is something of first importance—Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He was raised on the third day, all in accordance with the Scriptures.
This is the center. This is the main thing.
That’s why we need reminders. One of the reasons Jesus gave us the Lord’s Supper is so that, again and again, we’d come back to what matters most: His atoning sacrifice. The gospel brought to the forefront, right in front of our eyes, over and over again.
This doesn’t mean nothing else matters. We still care for our families, do our work well, serve our neighbors, and pursue countless good things. But none of them can take the place of the one thing that is of first importance.
So here’s the challenge:
What will it look like for you today to keep the gospel front and center? Will it shape the way you respond to stress at work? The way you speak to your family? The way you think about your neighbors? Keeping the first thing first isn’t only about believing—it’s about living as though the gospel really is the main thing.
Scripture Reading: Psalm 67; Proverbs 1-5; 1 Corinthians 15