Putting Jesus First by Courtney Tracy Book Review

About the Book:

In all the busy and bustle and noise of life, do you find it hard to keep first things first? We know that Jesus should be our first priority as believers, but with so many things fighting for our attention, what was once at the center can start getting crowded out. If this sounds like you, you’re not alone. Courtney Tracy has not only been there, she faces this struggle every single day. And you know what helped her return to Jesus as first priority? God’s Word! Particularly, the book of Colossians.

In this warm and encouraging devotional, Courtney walks with you through the lessons she learned in her journey through Colossians, and helps you discover the life-changing power of treasuring Jesus above all things. Each day includes a passage to read, a devotional entry to help you reflect, insightful questions to help you respond, and a prayer to help you approach God in confidence. On top of that, this devotional you are given:

• A beautiful experience and space each day for you to actively reflect on God’s Word, no matter how busy your day is.
• A 21-day format so that you might build a practical habit of prioritizing your time with Jesus daily.
• Powerful gospel truths that offer daily encouragement.
• The help you need to throw off your old identity and walk in the power of your new identity.

Jesus reigns supreme over all things, including our noisy homes and busy schedules. Let’s discover the joy that is ours when we live like that’s true, putting Him first!

My Review:

This is a good devotional on Colossians. The Scripture is included with each daily reading so can be read anywhere without having to have a Bible along. The devotions are a bit longer than one might usually expect and are more like a conversational study on each passage. Each daily reading includes questions for reflection, a prayer, and suggested reading for further study.

One of my favorite readings was on Colossians 1:13-20. Tracy has a good exploration of idolatry, reminding us that happens when we consider anything higher and better than Jesus. It might be knowledge, self-sufficiency, following certain rules or even the pursuit of happiness. The more we look to other things, however, the emptier we become. “We must always put Jesus first above everything else.” (493/1830) When we put Jesus first, everything else will be oriented rightly.

Another section I liked was her teaching on striving, trying to be sufficient on our own, apart from Christ. The point of Paul's teaching in this letter was Christ's sufficiency. Don't try to do what Christ has already done. (1031/1830)

This is a good study on Colossians. It is very readable, not technical yet instructive and thought provoking.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

About the Author:

Courtney Tracy is a former elementary school teacher. She is passionate about Jesus and sharing the hope of the gospel. She lives in northwestern Minnesota with her husband and their three children.

B&H Publishing, 192 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)