Grace World Outreach Church
Day 11
Jesus in the Middle
By: Chris Fullam
“And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these
commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and
again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and
when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when
you are getting up.” (Deuteronomy 6:6–7, NLT)
As I look back at my life, there were a lot of things that we did on repeat, daily and weekly. Routines that became staples in our home. Sometimes, it made it seem like my life and family were a little boring.
Here’s a good example. In my little neighborhood in New York, there was a restaurant right around the corner from our house. Every Wednesday night (rain or shine), that’s where we ate dinner. It just so happened to be my favorite place to eat, called Friendly’s. The food was sub-par quality at best, but the dessert was 10 out of 10! Every week I ordered the same thing: chicken strips with fries and honey mustard, followed by the best Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup sundae. After that, we were off to church, another staple in our house. Every Sunday morning and Wednesday night, we were there.
As I got older, I took note of other routines. My mom balancing the checkbook at the kitchen table every Thursday night; baked ziti every Tuesday (yes, every single Tuesday); my dad falling asleep in his chair while watching the Golf Channel; watching Wheel of Fortune followed by Jeopardy every night.
But there were two constants that left a lasting impact on my life, two rhythms that shaped my faith more than anything else. The first was seeing my dad, every single day, sitting in his chair with his Bible open, reading, studying, and praying for our family. The second was my mom’s daily appointment with Jesus. Every morning at 10 a.m., it didn’t matter what was happening, she would stop what she was doing, go to her bedroom, and spend time with Jesus.
I still remember walking in one day when I was about four years old. She was kneeling at her bedside, tears streaming down her face. I thought she was sad about something, but now I know it wasn’t that. That day was the day she introduced me to Jesus.
Out of all of the seemingly boring staples in our home—Mets baseball games (never the Yankees), NCIS on TV, Friendly’s every Wednesday, and my dad’s instant coffee (yuck!)—the ones that mattered most weren’t the things on our calendar. It was my parents living out their faith in front of me every day, in the good days and the bad days too.
Their daily decisions to put Jesus in the middle of everything weren’t flashy, but they were faithful. I realize now that those small moments of consistency helped build the foundations of my faith and became the example I want to live out for my family today.
Reflection:
- What are some “staples” in your daily or weekly routine that help you keep Jesus at the center of your life?
- What kind of example do you want to leave for those who are watching your life?
- Choose one new spiritual “staple” this week. Pick a consistent time, place, or practice to meet with Jesus. It doesn’t have to be fancy; just be faithful.
Prayer:
Jesus, thank You for those who modeled faithfulness in front of me. Help me to live with that same intentionality and consistency, where my faith isn’t just something I talk about but something I live out daily. Teach me to put You in the middle of everything—my family, my work, my thoughts, and my habits. May my life become a reflection of Your presence and an example for others to follow. Amen.