XA (Christ First)
In 2007, I accepted a new ministry position in my home state of Missouri. I knew it was the right thing to do, but I wished it could have happened a year sooner. But that was not in God’s will.
I started my new ministry in Missouri before my family could move with me from Louisiana. On the morning I left Shreveport to travel to Jefferson City, I did my best just to breathe and not cry as I pulled away from our home. I said a prayer and asked God to protect my family, calm my anxieties, and to show me something to strengthen my faith. God answered my prayer by the time I got to the end of the block.
There was a TEXACO gas station and convenience store just down the street from our home. It hadn’t changed much in the 17 years of living there. In fact, the TEXACO sign on the roof looked the same as it had for several years. Only two of the six letters were lit – the X and the A. As I pondered on that image during my prayer time, it was like a treasure map leading me to the X marking the spot of God’s wisdom.
In the Greek language of Jesus’ day, X and A stand for Chi and Alpha. Chi is the first letter in the word christos from which we get the word Christ. Alpha is the first letter in the Greek alphabet. Put them together and you get Christ first. With encouragement from God’s Spirit, I was reminded of Jesus’ command: “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:33-34)
With the glow of the XA in the rearview mirror, I thanked God for speaking to me and for the unexpected initiation into the XA fraternity. It is a memory that God has used on number of different occasions in my life to remind me of my discipleship to Him.
With a new year beginning, what would it mean for you to live XA today? This month? Or this year? If you have room on your list of resolutions for the new year, why not add learning to live XA.
Nick Davis
Director of Advancement
