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Sunday, January 4 — “What’s at the Center?”

Scripture: Matthew 22:34–40

When Jesus is asked what matters most, he doesn’t hesitate. He doesn’t offer a list of rules or priorities. He names love—love for God and love for neighbor—as the center on which everything else hangs.

We often try to manage life by juggling priorities: work, family, finances, health, obligations. But Jesus invites us to consider something deeper than balance. He invites us to consider what sits at the center of our lives—the place from which everything else flows.

Putting first things first isn’t about doing more religious things. It’s about allowing love for God to shape how we show up everywhere else. Love is not one task among many; it’s the orientation that gives meaning to all the rest.

When love becomes central, decisions change. Reactions soften. Relationships begin to reflect what matters most.

Reflection Question:
What tends to occupy the center of your life when things feel stressful or uncertain?

Concrete Practice:
At one decision point today, ask: “What would love look like here?” Let that question guide your response.

Prayer:
God of love, help me center my life on what truly matters. Shape my choices and relationships with your love. Amen.