Why We Put Christ First – By Shamosho Daniel Hanna

“A certain man gave a great supper and invited many, and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, ‘Come, for all things are now prepared.’ But they all began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.’ Another said, ‘I have married a wife, and I cannot come.”

What is Jesus saying? A generous man invited many people and they all made excuses

man = God the father – God sent his Son to save the world

servant = Jesus Christ – not come to be served but to serve, suffering servant

all things = forgiveness, salvation, redemption, and ultimately the kingdom of God – taste now in church, eucharist!!!

BUT CHALLENGE = GO DEEPER

Jesus is inviting us to go deeper with him, not just to come to church on Sunday to worship him for a couple of hours and then forget about him for the rest of the week

Jesus wants to have a relationship with us but unfortunately many times we give excuses.

Common excuses –

1) I’m too sinful – Christ came into the world to save sinner of whom I am chief

2) Care what people think – woe to you when all men speak well of you  

3) I have work – we worry more about what were gonna eat and drink, and making money and we forget about Jesus.

Please don’t misunderstand what’s being said.

Christianity is not against making money, or being rich, or eating and drinking, or marrying

It’s very good to be successful, to go to school, to earn a degree, to make money, to start a family and it’s also very good to put Christ first in our lives, to make him priority

So what does it mean to put Jesus first?

It means taking some time from our busy schedule to talk to him in prayer, and to let him talk to us through the bible. (Look up) – God speaks to us through the bible – GIFT

We know all this but how do we put it into practice.

By understanding WHY it’s important to put Christ first

The answer is: because we need Him.

Fall into trap of thinking Christ needs us but truth is we need him.

He’s the foundation and without a foundation a house can’t stand.

Christ is the one who keeps us grounded.

He’s the one who gives us peace in a stormy world – disciples on stormy boat

And so, because our Lord gives us peace, make it your aim to go deeper with Christ, to pray daily, to read the bible daily, and to continue coming to church

And if you fail, don’t get down on yourself, keep going, keep trying,

and keep asking the Lord to help you draw closer to him.

And above all else, remember that God sees you and he loves you

and wants nothing more than to give you his kingdom.

This is why Christ said, “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure…”

 

Respond to God’s invitation.

Come and receive forgiveness of sins.

Taste and see that the Lord is good.

Become an heir of the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

And if you’ve made excuses in the past, it’s ok, it’s not too late

because today Jesus is inviting you.

Today he is calling you to come and partake of his supper,

to commit your life to him, to put him first, to thank him and offer praises to him.

In the words of the apostle Paul:

Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2)

Learn more in Shamosho Daniel Hanna’s sermon video here.