Jesus First- Week 5: “Jesus First Over All Desire”

Oct 11, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: Sunflower Souls Oriented Toward the Son

When sunflowers track the sun’s movement, they embody a life anchored in divine pursuit. Just as these flowers turn upward, believers are called to fix their gaze on Christ, resisting the gravitational pull of earthly distractions. Colossians 3:1–2 invites followers to seek what is above, not as a religious checklist but as a reorientation of desire. The passage challenges the soul’s posture: will it bend toward fleeting cravings or stretch toward eternal glory? True spiritual vitality begins when Christ becomes the gravitational center of every longing. [13:42]

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
(Colossians 3:1–2, ESV)

Reflection: What earthly distraction most often pulls your gaze downward? How might intentionally “tracking” Christ’s presence today recalibrate your desires?

Day 2: Hidden Life, Secure in Christ’s Firebox

A firebox protects valuables from destruction, just as Christ safeguards the believer’s true identity. Colossians 3:3 declares that a Christian’s life is “hidden with Christ in God” – not erased, but eternally secure. This truth dismantles the need to perform, achieve, or curate a public persona. The pressure to prove one’s worth melts away when the soul rests in divine custody. Past failures and present struggles lose their defining power when life is vaulted in heaven’s unshakable stronghold. [07:12]

For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
(Colossians 3:3, ESV)

Reflection: Where do you still try to “prove” your worth? How might living from your hidden identity in Christ change your interactions today?

Day 3: Redefined by Resurrection, Not Additions

Marriage doesn’t add a spouse to an unchanged life; it rewrites the entire story. Similarly, union with Christ means death to old narratives and rebirth into His epic of redemption. Colossians 3:4 confronts the myth of compartmentalized faith: Christ isn’t a spiritual accessory but the Author of existence itself. Every relationship, ambition, and struggle now unfolds within His resurrection reality. The Christian life isn’t improved self-management but exchanged identity. [09:14]

When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
(Colossians 3:4, ESV)

Reflection: What area of your life still operates like an “independent franchise”? How would Christ’s lordship transform it if you fully embraced His authorship?

Day 4: From 186 Distractions to Divine Desire

The average person checks their phone 186 times daily, training their brain for digital dopamine hits. Colossians 3:2’s command to “set your minds” challenges this neurological hijacking. Every glance at a screen, every scroll, becomes a spiritual decision – will we feed our hunger for distraction or cultivate appetite for eternal things? Redirecting attention from earth’s flickering pixels to heaven’s enduring light rewires desire at the synaptic level. [33:43]

Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.
(Psalm 119:37, ESV)

Reflection: Which of your daily routines most trains your brain for distraction? What one intentional practice could redirect those moments toward Christ this week?

Day 5: Training Affections Through Daily Pings

Smartphones constantly ping towers to maintain connectivity. Colossians 3:1–2 invites similar spiritual rhythms – brief but frequent “pings” of heaven throughout the day. Whether through whispered prayers, scripture reminders, or worship pauses, these micro-moments recalibrate the heart’s orientation. Affections follow attention: what the mind repeatedly touches, the soul eventually treasures. Lasting transformation comes not through grand gestures but grace-soaked habits. [53:11]

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
(Philippians 4:8, ESV)

Reflection: What mundane moment today (coffee brewing, traffic light, email refresh) could become a “ping” to reconnect with Christ’s presence?

Sermon Summary

Paul’s call in Colossians 3:1-4 begins with a hard question about desire. Human beings are created to crave, but those cravings can be hacked, exploited, and turned downward. The phone becomes a picture of that downward pull: people hunched over, shriveled in soul, checking again and again for a payoff that never carries the weight of the deepest longing.

God designed soul cravings to draw people outward, upward, and Godward. Christ alone can bear the weight of the ache for meaning, beauty, community, justice, and communion. Created things can be good, but hobbies, status, retirement, approval, stimulation, and comfort cannot be God. No finite thing can satisfy desires made for an infinite God.

Paul says that those raised with Christ must “keep on seeking” the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. The things above are not merely a heavenly place or spiritual ideas. The things above are centered on a Person: the reigning, ruling, sufficient Jesus. Christ is not sought in order to earn His love. Christ is sought because His love has already raised His people into union with Him.

Paul also joins heart and mind together. Whatever captivates attention cultivates affection. Consumer culture trains the heart to love things. Digital culture trains the heart to crave stimulation. Comparison culture trains the heart to crave approval. Outrage culture trains the heart to despise people. Scripture, prayer, worship, confession, and love for others train the heart to desire Christ and His eternal kingdom. Attention is always training affection.

Christ does not come as an addition to an already existing life. Christ comes as the redefinition of life altogether. His death means the old past of sin, guilt, and failure no longer holds authority. His hidden life means the present is secure with Christ in God, even when circumstances are wildly uncertain. His appearing means the future is certain: failures, suffering, sickness, aging, and death do not get the last word. Jesus does.

The sunflower gives the final picture. A sunflower turns toward the sun as it moves across the sky. Christ calls His people to look up, look again, and keep looking, not as a work to accomplish, but as the way of life for those whose life is Christ.

Key Takeaways

1. Desires are made for God Human desire is not the enemy. Desire becomes dangerous when created things are asked to carry the weight of an infinite soul. God placed that deep vulnerability in human beings not to be exploited by lesser things, but to be fulfilled in Christ. [41:05]
2. Attention trains the heart’s affections The mind is never neutral, because whatever holds attention slowly shapes love. Constant distraction, comparison, consumerism, and outrage form desires that cannot give life. Scripture, prayer, worship, and love place the heart again before the One it was made to desire. [56:23]
3. Seek Jesus, not spiritual payoffs Christ is not sought to gain stuff, prove worth, or earn divine acceptance. Christ is sought because He loves, frees, and transforms those joined to Him by faith. The heart’s first pursuit must be the reigning Jesus, not merely the benefits attached to Him. [51:12]
4. Christ redefines the whole life Jesus cannot be fitted in alongside hobbies, goals, and priorities as one important piece of life. His death settles the past, His hidden life secures the present, and His appearing guarantees the future. Christ does not become a big part of life; Christ becomes life. [68:55]
5. Look up like a sunflower The sunflower turns toward the sun throughout the day, and Christ calls His people to that same Godward orientation. The downward pull of immediate stimulation shrinks the soul, but Christ lifts desire toward glory. Looking to Jesus becomes a steady way of living, not a religious performance.

## [73:26]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[29:54] - Jesus First Over All Desires
[32:54] - The Magic Number: 186 Phone Checks
[34:24] - Human Desire Can Be Exploited
[37:28] - Soul Cravings Were Made for God
[42:55] - Jesus First as Life’s Pursuit
[43:50] - Spiritual Hunger and Poor Choices
[45:54] - Seek Christ as the Heart’s Priority
[52:02] - Set the Mind on Things Above
[57:06] - Five Habits to Train Affection
[61:30] - Christ Is Not an Addition
[64:26] - Christ Redefines Past and Present
[68:26] - Christ Redefines the Future
[72:45] - Turn Toward Christ Like a Sunflower
[75:05] - A Call to Look, Trust, and Live

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Colossians 3:1-4
“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” [31:33]

Matthew 6:33
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” [46:52]

John 6:40
“For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” [01:16:43]

Observation questions

In Colossians 3:1-4, what words and phrases describe where Christ is and what believers are called to seek and set their minds on? [46:52]
What examples of “created things” were identified as good gifts that become harmful when they are treated as ultimate sources of meaning or security? [50:02]
According to Colossians 3:3-4, what statements does Paul make about a believer’s past, present, and future?
What competing directions for a person’s attention and desires were described: Christ and His kingdom, or the present world apart from Christ? [54:28]

Interpretation questions

Paul tells those who have been raised with Christ to keep seeking the things above. Why does their union with Christ come before the command to seek Him, and how does that protect believers from trying to earn God’s love? [51:12]
What does it mean that “the things above” are centered on Christ Himself rather than merely on escaping earthly life or gaining spiritual benefits? [47:22]
How does Paul’s statement that a believer’s life is hidden with Christ in God give real security when circumstances, health, relationships, or work are uncertain? [01:06:53]
Paul calls Christ “your life.” How does that challenge the common idea that Jesus can simply be an important part added alongside a person’s other priorities? [01:09:03]

Application questions

What has been holding your attention most consistently lately—your phone, comfort, approval, possessions, worry, outrage, or something else? What affection or desire might that attention be training in your heart? [55:04]
Is there a good thing in your life—such as a hobby, career goal, financial plan, reputation, or relationship—that may be carrying more weight than it was meant to carry? What would it look like to enjoy it as a gift without asking it to be God? [50:02]
Which one practice could help you set your mind on Christ this week: beginning with Scripture before your phone, starting still in prayer, praying at set times, carrying a verse, or gathering regularly with God’s people? What would make that practice realistic for you? [57:30]
When guilt, failure, or an old pattern speaks loudly, how can you remind yourself that your past no longer has the authority to define you in Christ? [01:06:00]
Where do you most need the hope that Christ has the final word—over suffering, sickness, aging, fear, loss, or death? How does the promise of appearing with Him in glory shape the way you face that area today? [01:10:33]
What would it look like this week to “look up” toward Christ again and again, like a sunflower turning toward the sun, rather than being pulled downward by immediate stimulation? [01:13:15]

Sermon Clips

74s

#JesusRedefinesYourFuture

“Jesus redefines your future. Here's what this means, my friends. Your failures don't get the last word. Your present suffering doesn't get the last word. Your present sickness doesn't get the last word. Your present aging doesn't get the last word. And your inevitable death doesn't get the last word. Jesus does. So here's what we're saying. If your life is joined to his by faith, his future redefines your future, and it's one word, glory. So here's what we're saying. In Jesus, listen, your past is settled. In Jesus, your present is secure. And in Jesus, your future is certain. And so in Christ, friends, your story is completely redefined from guilt to grace to glory.”

50s

#GuardYourFocus

“that your mind and your body and your heart, they're like all connected. Have you figured that out yet? I mean, divers and gymnasts both understand wherever the head goes, the whole body follows. And our minds, our hearts, they're they're together. They don't divide out. And notice verse one tells keep on seeking things above. Verse two tells us, keep on setting our mind. So in other words, heart and mind, desire and thought. These are linked together. You can't separate them. So here's what I'm trying to say. Whatever captivates your attention will cultivate your affection. Whatever captivates your attention will cultivate your affection.”

43s

#JesusSatisfies

“Now here's the question. Can any of those things carry the weight of your soul's deepest hunger? The answer is no. They haven't, and they can't. And so often, listen friends, we spend the most amount of time pursuing things that are not the most important thing. The most important pursuit is Jesus Christ. Let me just say this, listen, we do not seek Jesus so that he will love us. We seek him because he loves us. We don't seek Jesus to get stuff. We seek Jesus because he sets us free. He transforms our hearts and our minds.”

40s

#ChristIsMyLife

“Christ, your life. Another scripture doesn't say that Christ is a part of your life or that Christ is the most important part of your life. It just simply says, Christ, your life. That's what scripture says. Let me ask you, is that what you say? Are you in agreement with the scripture? Because Jesus just doesn't merely give me life. He is my life. Listen, you wanna talk about a relationship that totally redefines your life altogether? There it is. There is no such thing as a relationship with Christ that does not redefine you in every way.”

40s

#ExperienceGrace

“So here's what I'm saying. Listen, we don't do these things so that God will love us. We do these things to expose our hearts to the God who deeply loves us. We're talking about exposing our hearts into the presence of the one who loves us. How can you develop a relationship with someone you're avoiding? This is not about earning grace. This is about experiencing grace in the depths of your being.”

58s

#TrainYourHeart

“Let's say you you you focus your mind on our comparison culture. You give your mind to how you look. You give your mind to, like, what others have or who's ahead. What will happen is you will train your heart to crave approval. if you give your focus to, like, our outrage culture, which is everywhere, then you will fill your mind with everything that's wrong and everyone who's wrong and everyone you're supposed to be mad at. And sooner or later, you train your heart to despise and reject people. Or you could focus your mind on Jesus. You can give your mind to scripture and to prayer, to worship, and to confession, and to loving others. And if you do, listen, then then you're training your heart to desire Christ and his eternal kingdom.”

48s

#FreedomFromThePast

“That's true. In fact, you could say we are created to crave. Just think about your physical body. If it weren't for your craving for food, I mean, you starve to death. If it weren't for your craving for drink, like, you would dehydrate and die. You could say that we were designed to desire, and that desire is supposed to drive us toward the fulfillment. It's true physically, but did you know it's also true spiritually? Deep down inside, every single one of us has internal longings, deep deep desires that drive us. In fact, you could say it this way. We were all created with soul cravings, and those soul cravings are designed to drive us to God.”

40s

#RevealedInGlory

“Paul is referring to here to a decisive act that has already happened. This is not something you're supposed to make happen. If you're a Christ follower, this already happened. When did that happen? Well, the moment you you... When you united with Christ by faith, his death became your death, which means your entire past, my past, full of sin and guilt and failure. The moment I was united with Christ, I'm in him and he is in me. Now I am dead to my past power to continue to define me any longer. I am now redefined by Jesus Christ.”

53s

#FullnessInChrist

“notice the future. When Christ appears, you see the future reference? When Christ appears, you will appear with him in glory. And again, this is so... What Paul's doing with language here is really beautiful to see in the original. The word appear means to be made visible. That's what it means. So look at the beautiful contrast. Verse three hidden in Christ. Verse four when he appears in the future revealed in Christ. Here's what we're saying. Right now, you can't see everything that God is doing in you. And you can't see everything that God has prepared for you. But when he appears, everything now hidden in Christ will be revealed fully. And notice where this future is heading, the last four words. That you will be with him in glory.”

44s

#HeartTraining

“our own self cannot meet those longings. We learned last week that religious rule keeping cannot meet those deep down longings. We also learned that no spiritual experiences can meet those deep down... We learned that no human philosophy, traditions, or ideologies could ever meet that deep down desire. In fact, no created thing can fulfill our deepest desire. We learned last week from Colossians two, nine and ten that in Christ is the fullness of God, and that in him and from him, we receive the fullness from God to meet the deepest desires that we have.”

41s

#RedefinedByJesus

“So here's the key. Listen, if you don't get anything I'm saying, so you get this. Wherever you set your affection, your your your attention rather, wherever you set your attention, you're training your heart. You're training your heart. Every day your heart's being trained by you, by your choices. Every day my heart is being trained by my choices. So track with me on this. If you focus your mind on our consumer culture around us, like you look at those ads and you're compelled by ads and and you just are are into wanting and getting more stuff, you'll be training your heart to love things.”

32s

#SoulHunger

“Scripture is clear. Jesus doesn't just come into the life that you've already decided to live and then take his place among other things. With your hobbies, with your activities, alongside your goals, your priorities, he doesn't do that. Like a relationship, you know, with any significant other. It's not just an ad. It's more so. Jesus does not come to be an addition to your life. He comes to redefine your life altogether. He redefines your past.”

30s

#GodOverGoals

“And so I just wanna ask you directly, when you move your shopping cart through the day of your life, what are you putting in there? What are you feeding your heart? Because the passage is really, really clear that we should be seeking Jesus where he's at and downloading the things of where he's at to where we are at. And here's the thing, whatever my heart pursues, my mind becomes captivated by.”

39s

#JesusIsEnough

“What do you pursue every day? For many of us, what we pursue every day, maybe it's a hobby. Hobbies are good. They are not god. Maybe maybe what you're up and after every day, you're doing it every day. You're going, you're going and going. What are you hunger for? What do you desire? For some of us, it's to attain a certain amount of retirement. Again, that's good, but it ain't god. For many of us, what we're after every day, maybe it's a certain job or a certain title or a certain level of status. Those things can be good. They just shouldn't be God.”

43s

#SecureInChrist

“This word hidden literally refers to security. Think of a firebox where you put your best valuables in there. Nothing can burn that down. It is completely safe, and that's who you are in Christ. Though life circumstances can change, and they do. Though life can be wildly uncertain at times, and it can be. Guess what can't change? Your life in Christ. Your life in Christ is hidden with him, safe with Christ God. I don't know about you, but that gives me a deep sense of hope.”

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