Put Jesus at the Center

Jesus…said, “If anyone wants to follow me, he must say no to himself.  He must pick up his cross and follow me.”  Matthew 16:24 (NIRV)

Props: drawing board, markers

            Two helpers enter and helper 1 challenges helper 2 to a game of tic-tac-toe.  Helper 2 agrees and draws an “X” on the board.  Helper 1 asks where the grid is, and helper 2 says it isn’t necessary.  Helper 1 asks where the “X” is—whether in the middle, the corner, etc.  Helper 2 replies that the grid is wherever he wants it to be.  Helper 1 insists that a grid is the center of the game and it cannot be played without it.  Helper 2 disagrees and the game is off.

            This was just plain silly!  Everyone knows you can’t play tic-tac-toe without drawing a grid first (or at least drawing an “imaginary” grid).  The grid is the center of the game. 

            This reminds me of people who try to go through life without Jesus.  Everything else in their life gets scattered.  If you want things in life to make sense, put Jesus first!   Let Jesus be at the center of your life, and your goals, visions, desires, talents and relationships will fall into place.  You won’t get any farther in life without Jesus than you would in a tic-tac-toe game without the grid.  So put your life in order…Put Jesus first!