Mark 12:28-34

One of the teachers of the law inquired of Jesus which of the commandments was the most important. Jesus replied;

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this; Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.”

In Deuteronomy 6, Moses spelled out God’s message with similar words, and instructed the people of Israel to obey God, being careful to show His character to the world.

How do we carry on with only one focus? The Lord has given us with so many other responsibilities: children, homes, careers, finances, spouses, extended family, friends, the earth………

We use the gifts we have been blessed with, and as we rely on the strength of the Holy Spirit to be revealed through our weakness, it all comes together as it is meant to be!

1^st Peter 4:10 reminds us; “Each one should use whatever gifts he has received  to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.”

It is our job to be creative in our approach to spreading the good news. To use our God given gifts and model for the world what is in our hearts. God already knows.

We are not expected to preach if our gift is not preaching, however our actions will speak volumes about who we are and whom we serve. What are your gifts?

We are to become who we were created to be, and strive to live as our Lord commanded. We will never reach perfection, but we can surely die trying. What a way to go!  

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!

Focus (Ignore the Hocus-Pocus)

Life is full of distractions.

The other day while watching a college basketball game, I got up to go downstairs to get something to drink. On my way, I realized I had not gone through the mail, so I stopped and did that. That triggered the thought that I had an e-mail I had to write. I went and did that, then headed downstairs. Unfortunately, by the time I got there, I forgot why I was there. I went back to couch, wondering why I was still thirsty.

I had lost my focus.

Today’s story, Acts 13:44-50, is about a man who did not lose focus. Paul preached the Gospel in Antioch. God opened many hearts, heard Paul’s words and believed.

There were others, however, who did not like Paul’s message. “They stirred up persecution against Paul” and expelled Paul from the region. Paul could have stayed and argued, trying to convince these people they were wrong, but he did not. Paul realized his job was to preach; God would take care of the results. Paul was not distracted from his mission, so he left and went Iconium, where he continued to preach.

Paul kept his focus.

The Church has been under attack for 2000 years and continues to be so today. Christians are in prison and many are dying for their faith. TV shows belittle Christians and their values. Our government passes laws that show no respect for God’s Laws.

We could get mad and fight these battles, but really, they are a mere distraction.

Since Christ died for us, the Devil cannot get the souls of Christians. Nonetheless, he uses hocus-pocus and slights of hand to distract us so that we do not carry out God’s Will. Satan will do anything to make us lose our focus.

I must admit I do get angry with some of the things that are happening to our culture. However, I realize I must maintain my focus and continue to pursue God’s Will. I have a role to bring others to Jesus and I must not let my anger interfere with that.

I must keep my focus, and ignore the Devil's hocus-pocus.

Don't Let Your Mind Wander 1 Corinthians 11:27-34

Have you ever driven your car and half way through the trip realized you were not really paying attention? Maybe you were going to work, driving the same route you’ve driven for years. You know the roads so well that your mind begins to wander. When you come back to the present you’re a bit shaken by what could have happened.

Our passage today has a similar emphasis on the importance concerning the need for our attention during communion. Paul is once again speaking to the Corinthian church about their observance of communion. Many in the church have been approaching the Lord’s Table incorrectly. Paul states, “For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment upon himself.”

That is pretty serious! One of the ways we mistreat communion is by letting it get routine, allowing our mind to wander. Have you ever gone up for communion and thought about the rest of your day, or maybe the fight you had with your children or spouse? Paul is saying don’t do it! Think only on Christ and his sacrifice.

This is a great reminder for us not to take God lightly. He forgives us so completely that we tend to take him and his sacrifice for granted at times. This Lenten season is the perfect time to ask him to remind you of how big He is. Ask him to show you in a new way, just what he did for you on that cross.

Read today's passage at Biblegateway 1 Corinthians 11:27-34

Tunnel Vision- 1 Corinthians 4:1-7

My dad gave me a business card one day that read. “If you meet me and forget who I am, you have lost nothing. If you meet Jesus Christ and forget who He is, you have lost everything.” I found that card, the other day, tucked away in a keepsakes box. I remember, as a child, feeling the weight of that truthful declaration as I read it over and over.

My father lived his life believing that statement. Many who knew him would agree that he didn’t care what their opinion of him was, but he would tell everyone he met about God and challenge them to serve him more.

Thinking back on that reminds me of our passage today. In 1 Corinthians 4 Paul says, “I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me.”

Paul did not regard himself as anything special; he did not care what others thought of him, or what his opinion of himself was. All Paul concerned himself with was preaching Jesus Christ to the lost world.

That statement is terrifying and freeing. I want so badly desire to live my life caring only what God thinks of me. That requires that I not only stop caring what others think of me, but that I get out of my own head and focus totally on Christ.

Let's pray today that God will show us how to live a totally Christ focused life.

Read today's passage at Biblegateway 1 Corinthians 4:1-7