Focus!

The Invisible Church has been given an important assignment by Jesus, and that is “To go and make disciples of all nations … teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”


We need to focus on this assignment.



Focus!

Today’s reading is Nehemiah 6:1-9. Nehemiah was leading the effort to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, and there was much resistance along the way. Nehemiah dealt with a murder plot and with rumors concerning his objective. He also had to deal with the effects of the psychological warfare on his workers.

Nehemiah spent just enough time on these distractions to let his enemies know he heard them. He did not argue with them. He merely stuck to the facts and stayed clear of their evil intent. Nehemiah maintained his focus!

Like Nehemiah’s enemies, Satan will attack us as we carry out our assignment. Satan will put barriers in our way. He will try to destroy our morale and he will make it difficult for our leaders. Satan will spread rumors; he will use the news media and other outlets to paint Christians as something they are not. He may even try to physically harm some of Christ’s children.

Perhaps worst of all, Satan will try to get Christians to think they have to do something to earn their way to heaven.

 

This can raise doubts in a Christian’s mind. Instead of focusing on the task at hand, a Christian may instead focus on what he needs to do to save himself. Yet Paul tells us, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” Christians do not have to worry about their salvation; they should focus on the task at hand.
 

We are saved. We have a task to do. Just focus!