“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 15:3–4

Paul doesn't have much else to preach to the Corinthian church, or to anyone for that matter. It is the Gospel, the good news of Christ, first of all and only; Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead, all promised and foreshadowed in Scripture.

We miss the point when we make other things of first importance. It is even interesting how we attempt to bring other things to the table to tie to this Gospel. But they are all secondary or pointless without Jesus. It was what Paul received from Christ himself, and it is what he delivers to us. And now, following his model, we make it of first importance.

The thing is, we don't always live or believe this way. We run after other distractions—some good, some evil—when the Gospel is enough. We make our righteousness or abilities first. We make our reputations first. We make our meals first… You name it, there is so much that competes for first.

But we can come back to the thing of first importance, and Jesus is pleased. He has grace for our wandering and grace for our return. Let's determine to set him and his news first. Let us pray that he makes himself first in our lives. And let us deliver what we have received.