Jesus is first.

Jesus is first. Above all, before all, ahead of all, more valuable than all, more beautiful than all. He is supreme, absolute, foremost, preeminent. We must start here. We will finish here. We love Him for His sake. We love others for His sake. We go for His sake. Our only hope for kingdom advancement in 2016 is here. “And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.” (Col. 1:18) Jesus is the “beginning”. Nothing came before Him and He will be after all else fails. He is the great uncaused Cause through whom all other things came to be. Nothing continues to be without His approval. All things that are being do so because it pleases Him. He is first. Jesus is the “firstborn from the dead”. He is the first to get up from among the dead ones and have victory over death. On that glorious third day He rolled the stone away and exercised complete triumph over man’s greatest enemy. All who are in Him will follow. He is first. Jesus is “preeminent”. He is the first in rank. There is no one above Him and everyone is below Him. Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess this truth. His preeminence is inescapable and unavoidable. He is the only One who knows what it is to be the first. Jesus is the first in spatial relation. He is in the front. Jesus is the first in time. He is the beginning. Jesus is the first in number. He is first. Jesus is first in value. He is worthy. If we start here and stay here we will find incomparable victory for this new year. No man can do what must be done. No human plan will get us there. Only Jesus. May we continue ahead in 2016 in biblical unity and kingdom advancement. May we follow King Jesus, the One who is first.