In Ezra 3, the people of God gather to rebuild the Temple. Despite their fears, they prioritize God’s presence and are able to finish the altar to consecrate themselves back to God. But some are disappointed. Rather than looking ahead to what God might do, they looked back to compare their current situation with their preferred past. As we continue to build our future, we want to prioritize Jesus and His presence, even when facing fear or disappointment. Being “Jesus-First” means we give, pray, serve, and worship for God’s presence alone, not our progress.