A clear focus

 

A former pastor impressed me with this: Some Christians become so focused on one truth about God and Christianity that their understanding becomes like looking at something with a magnifying glass, everything else around the edges becomes distorted and blurry.

I’ve noticed this with those who have strong spiritual gifts. A gifted server thinks everyone should be doing practical things. A person with a generous heart stresses sacrificial giving. An evangelist thinks all Christians should focus on soul-winning.

As for the latter, Jesus did say, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” (Mark 16:15–16) He also said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” (John 20:21)

Paul was focused too. Even though his particular concern was winning souls, he added instruction about how to do it:

And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:30–2:5)

Paul also explained that other things needed to be done. The body consists of various gifted people who do various different things. For instance:

For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. (Romans 12:4–8)
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Ephesians 4:11–16)

I’m not behind a pulpit or in a social position that offers many opportunities to ‘preach’ or share the gospel. God gave me a computer and told me to share His truths with others, truths that He teaches me every day. Part of His desire for my life is to gather from Him and share with others, and another focus is prayer, particularly for His truth to be lived out in the people on my prayer list.

Others share Him in varying ways, including (but not limited to) full-time missionary work. This goal of winning souls is important, but also I’m to be growing in love for God and for others in ways that glorify Jesus Christ. The work of the Body of Christ is not limited to telling. We are to take care of the needy, be peacemakers, love our enemies and “let our light shine so others will see our good works and give glory to our Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

While it is not wrong to focus, it is not biblical to tell others they must post their devotions in a daily blog, or be a missionary and go to Africa, or feed the homeless, or “be like me.” Instead, we are called to be like Jesus — who took His orders from His Father through the Holy Spirit.

PRAY: Jesus, it is such a delight watching You bring great unity from great diversity. Our hearts are united in wanting souls saved, but also in loving You. More and more You work in us to love one another and listen to Your voice as You guide our lives. To focus only on one part of what it means to be a Christian would side-track me from hearing You and knowing what to do when challenged by things that so easily become blurry around the edges.

More Spiritual Battles

 

This week has been filled with spiritual battles. Certain prayers of faith brought both deep assurance and attacks from the enemy who does not want me to pray with such confidence. Add to that, hubby and I have considered a move to something away from where we are, leading us to a near offer and an actual offer on two places, but our hearts were unsettled and distracted from almost everything else. My biggest struggle was not knowing what was an I-want vs. what God wants. I was filled with positive and negatives from both sides, or so it seemed. We did agree that we wanted the will of God, but went to bed last night very uncertain what His will might be.

This morning, my hubby told of his wrestling during the night and that God gave him the clear answer to withdraw the offer, to not buy that house. It has some hidden and dangerous flaws, and we noticed three of them when doing a walk-through to figure out what needed to go where. God made His will clear. Besides, His will is not that we be distressed like we had been. (Matthew 11:30)

Today’s reading says this: “God is love, and His will can be nothing but love. He is full of wisdom, and His will must always be wise. He is omnipotent, and His will is baffled by nothing that can oppose…. The idea that our Father who loves us can want anything but our truest happiness is inconceivable. His will for us must be all that is best and most satisfying. Surely we can trust ourselves to it without a single shrinking or fearing thought….”

The reading adds that when we submit to His will we find “… this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.” (1 John 5:3)

While that house had some features that were extremely attractive, knowing His answer to our struggle was NO brought instant relief and rest, not burdensome at all, and for both of us. Our deposit is still on our desk and while our realtor may wonder about our sanity, we are at peace with not pursuing this change in our lives at this time.

All we do know for certain, besides not buying that house, is that we are supposed to keep purging this one, getting rid of all that we do not need or use, and keep simplifying our lives. These next verses are not about our home, yet the principle applies to simplicity and focus:

But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:3)

Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. (2 Corinthians 7:1)

Therefore, if someone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. (2 Timothy 2:21)

This house search had become a huge distraction from what we do know is God’s will: to know and love Jesus, to walk with Him, and to share Him with others.

PRAY: Lord, the burden to pray for others almost got swept away by the burden to find ‘just the right place’ to live. But leaving that up to You erased our concerns and refocused us on the matters at hand, the things we know that You want from us. Praying in Your will is so powerful that our enemy stacked us with such huge distractions that praying became difficult. Thank You for Your saving power that has brought us to see what has been happening and be able to say YES to You with clarity.

How to be transformed...

 

Yesterday was filled with emotions. Unexpected help came regarding family reunion plans that thrilled me. Not only new ideas to help people enjoy one another, but a great deal of thoughtful and encouraging motivation expressed with it. Then our team nearly won a soccer match only to have it tied in the last minutes and lost in a shoot-out. And after that, a different kind of shooting with an attempt to assassinate the former US president. Then I had a long dream in which a false teacher, filled with nonsense ideas about the way people think, led two church services filled with thousands of people who thought she was wonderful. I woke up distressed at this depiction of the way our world is going. My emotions threatened to take my focus off Jesus.

Today’s devotional reading echoed some of the low points of the previous twenty-four hours. It speaks of self-centeredness saying again that the great sin that plagues us is our focus on me, myself, and I. To be calmer, more level, I needed to focus on Jesus, not think about me.

However, the Bible does say to examine ourselves. Like emotions, this can also get out of hand. Too much looking at me is not good either. Those emotions did that while biblical self-examination should be motivated by a desire to find and root out sin. Yet today’s reading warned that too much of it, or having a me-focus can lead to making excuses, feeling sorry for me, comparing myself to others less fortunate, or even pride that I am better than so-and-so.

(Jesus) also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:9–14)

Even reading this story and thinking I am humble can turn into pride that thinks, “At least I am not like that self-righteous Pharisee.” While emotions can put my focus on me, so can pride. I’m supposed to view life in humility.

Not easy. Rare is the truly humble person. Today’s devotional offers this spiritual discipline to push out those sneaky personal pronouns: “The commands to look to Jesus, to behold His glory, to have our eyes ever toward Him, are literal. When we are looking to Jesus, we cannot see ourselves, for if our faces are to Him, our backs will necessarily be to one another.” The Bible says:

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

Looking at Jesus not only takes my eyes off myself, my emotions, and my performance, but as this verse says, it is a transforming process. We are affected by what captures our attention. For instance, our family spent a couple years in a southern state around people with a drawl that produced a ‘you all’ accent in our children. What is fed into our minds does have an effect  on our lives. No wonder Jesus said,

I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” (John 6:48–51)

He was illustrating the importance of relying on Him as sustenance for life. Relying on me only leads to more hunger and even starvation. Focus on Jesus feeds me well.

PRAY: Lord Jesus, looking at You instead of at myself changes my days and my dreams. Your will and responses affect me, even bring great joy at the good ideas of others instead of envy, and glad for fair play instead of being a sore loser fan, also upset at violence instead of thinking a victim gets what they deserve (as some do), and make me upset with false teaching and the harm it does rather than dismissing a dream as only a dream. Keep my eyes and thoughts on You. Only You can transform my selfishness into clear thinking — and help me with humility.

The Word is all about the Word…

Over the years God has taught me that accurate Bible interpretation requires attention to these truths. One is that Jesus is the living Word — and this book is the written Word; it is all about Jesus.

The written Word, like Jesus, is from God and inerrant. What God says is more important than “what does this mean to me?” I need to seek what is intended by what they say. This means a careful study of the words, even the original languages, the genre, the grammar, and the historical context. I cannot read present day ideas and customs or my life into it. Context is vital. Pointing to one verse to build a theology is dangerous.

The intended meaning is usually literal yet figurative language is often used by God to explain concepts and even events in ways that our minds can grasp. When God says He covers us with His wings, that does not mean He is a bird, but all figurative language is not that obvious!

Also, any part of the Bible needs to be considered by the thoughts in the entire Bible. All will be in harmony. That is, even what seems contradictory will fall into harmony if properly understood. This and all interpretation means dropping my preconceptions and relying on the Holy Spirit to inform me.

Revelation is progressive. The OT writers did not have the benefit of NT revelation, yet the NT writers had the benefit of the OT. Also, some OT writers were given glimpses into the future, but they did not have all of the particulars, yet all had the benefit of the Holy Spirit.

The intended meaning is God/Christ centered and has significance for everyone, in all places and at all times. Some Christians toss out the OT without realize how it points to NT truths and events and certainly to Jesus.

All that said, I realize that many contemporary Christians use “this means to me” and even current word meanings and events to interpret what was written, ignoring the author’s intent and use of languages with varying word meanings that are not the same as ours.

This week’s devotional author seems to fiddle with current word meanings rather than using Scripture to explain his message. Also, some of what is said is unclear as to the intended audience. Is this speaking to believers or to those who do not know the Lord? If to believers, the message should affirm our relationship to God through faith in Christ rather than telling me to give my life to Him. I have already done that. My battle now is not against the wrath of God that sinners deserve, but against the old nature and the lies of the world and Satan to cause doubt and lead me into sin.

Today’s devotional says: “To yield to God means to belong to God, and to belong to God means to have all His infinite power and infinite love on our side” What does this say? I already belong to God; He saved me and made me His child. I’m not always yielded to God’s will, either in ignorance of it, or because I’ve been side-tracked by some selfish idea or Satan’s lies, but that does not negate that God is caring for me or that I miss out on His power and love. He always rescues me from sin because He is my Savior.

All this to say that one more rule of Bible study is figuring out who the verse is talking to. If it is to those without Christ, I still need to pay attention, but am affected differently because God has already revealed that truth to me now as a believer. For many passages, they remind me of what I already know and have in Christ, and are not about becoming a believer but instructions in how to live as a member of His forever family.

PRAY: Lord, grant discernment and careful interpretation when I read what You have inspired godly authors to write. Most of all, may I see You clearly before trying to see what it is You want from me. Seeing You shows me what needs to be changed in my life. You tell me that I too often search the Scriptures because I think I need advice for my life, yet those Scriptures bear witness about You, (John 5:39) just as You described after You rose from the dead: “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, Jesus interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” (Luke 24:27) Seeing you changes me, but a focus on me does not have the same result.

Motivated by what God has done…

Why is it that so many preachers or devotional writers focus on telling their listeners or readers what to do rather than glorifying Jesus for what He has done? It is the love of Jesus that motives godly responses. I’m rarely charged up by another sinner shaking their finger at me.

My first reading today was all about my need to follow Jesus. So were other readings. One of them quoted this passage: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friend … I have called you friends.” (John 15:13, 15), and then used it to tell me I need to lay down my life for Jesus. That is true, but that is not what these words say. When my heart and mind are filled with the wonder and glory of God, responding easily follows. What folly to put the cart before the horse so why make this cart pull the load instead of the Lord?

One reading says what I always need to hear. It begins with, "Oh, what a Savior He is. Words can never express His mighty power to save! I never felt so utterly weak in myself, but Jesus is strong, and He is mine, and He saves me now. Praise His Name!"

A few lines later, the writer says, “Every moment, Lord I need the cleansing of your blood. And every moment, Lord, I have the cleansing of your blood.” I do not mean here cleansing from the guilt of sin, but cleansing from the sin itself, that cleansing which makes me “pure in heart.”

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. (1 Peter 2:24)

For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3)

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:2)

Each day I need the good news of the gospel. My sins distract me from the reality of sins forgiven and from the power of redemption. It is knowing what is possible in Christ that gives me even the desire for purity of heart that He calls for, as well as the purity itself…

And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. (1 John 3:3)

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. (Matthew 5:8)

Another reading says this: “God always answers the general design and intention of His people’s prayers, in doing that which, all things considered, is most for His own glory and our spiritual and eternal welfare. As we never find that Jesus Christ rejected a single supplicant who came to Him for mercy, so we believe that no prayer made in His name will be in vain.”

Such words edify, build faith. Telling me my duty is helpful only if I have decided not to do it and live as I want. But for the Christian who wants to live for Christ, His words of encouragement and reminders of what He has done for me always give me hope and the motivation to live for Him.

PRAY: Thank You Jesus for calling me Your friend and laying down Your life for me. Greater love has no one than this. Because of what You have done for me, I want to live for You and for the glory of Your name.

 

The Cure for a Scattered Mind

 

Each person thinks that whatever they experience is the same as every other person. After living several decades, I realize that is not true. While we are alike in many ways, we are also unique. I rarely meet another person with the same interests, skills, and weaknesses that I have. One of those weaknesses is a sharp mind that is so easily distracted that sticking to one thought, never mind one project, has always been a challenge. This morning, I read these verses and wonder if Jesus was like that too . . .

For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. Therefore, he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. (Hebrews 2:16–18)

MacArthur’s title for this devotion is: Jesus came to sympathize with us, so He could be our merciful and faithful High Priest.

Being made like us “in every respect” is mind-boggling. He suffered our struggles so He could help us with them? That is what the Bible says yet when I think of having a scattered mind, I associate it with sin, a human weakness and lack of self-control. Since Jesus never sinned, how could He know by experience what it is like to be easily distracted? He certainly didn’t behave as if He was.

However, there is truth found in Paul’s advice to a young pastor. He gave instruction to him about several things such as his health, critics, moral and spiritual warfare, and summed it up with:

Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel. (2 Timothy 2:8)

This is key to a distracted mind. I’m learning that whatever else I try to concentrate on does not stick, but when I “remember Jesus” and focus on Him, my mind will stay there. Jesus, as fully human, did something like that. He said it this way:

“My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work” . . . . and “For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.” (John 4:36 and 6:38)

The OT put it this way: “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” (Isaiah 26:3) Jesus totally trusted His Father and fixed His mind on the Father’s will. He talked and listened to His Father and made that a priority. This is the cure for a scattered mind and wandering thoughts.

This line from this devotional book is entirely true: Like Timothy, we need to be reminded of Christ’s humanity, especially when life becomes particularly tough. Then we can pray, “Lord, You know what You endured while You were here. I’m going through it now.” We can be sure that He knows and will encourage us.

It isn’t just a wandering mind, but whatever else causes me to struggle, Jesus knows it. He came not only to save me from sin but to experience what I experience, so He could be a “merciful and faithful high priest.”

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15)

Jesus felt everything I will ever feel and knows what it is like to be tempted to stop trusting His Father. He faced temptation in full degree — without sin. Instead, He sweat drops of blood and said, “Not my will, but thine be done.”

PRAY: Jesus, I am more and more aware of how You entered this world fully human but without sin. Also, that I can focus on You and my mind is not so apt to stray elsewhere, even while I’m occupied with other things. You enable me to pray and praise You, even while washing dishes or making a quilt, or whatever else might be going on. You knew the distractions and resisted them by focusing on the Father. You also gave me Your mind so I can focus on You and not be distracted (1 Corinthians 2:16). You are my Lord and Savior, expressing Your great love and grace to the nth degree.

PONDER: “No temptation has overtaken me that is not common to man (or even to Jesus). God is faithful, and he will not let me be tempted beyond my ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that I may be able to endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13, personalized)

 

 

Satisfied, no matter what happens?

 

On our vacation south, it became obvious that the media accounts from there do not match the attitudes of the general population. I was impressed with the open friendliness and gracious actions of all that we met. None of that reflected news of shootings, riots, and lawlessness.

MacArthur makes a different comparison. He writes of a time when he witnessed angry mobs in his city who killed people and set of buildings on fire. During the chaos, people ransacked and looted stores with even moms, dads, and little children loading their vehicles anything they wanted.

He described this as “the most graphic demonstration of lawlessness” he had ever seen and a vivid display of the selfishness in human hearts unrestrained by law and order. He called it the results of a “me first” condition where instant gratification takes priority and said it was as if they were saying, “I’m not satisfied with the way life’s treating me, so I’m entitled to grab everything I can — no matter who gets hurt in the process.”

His contrasted this with a passage in the NT that describes OT believers, summing it up with:

These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. (Hebrews 11:13–16)

Those people of faith trusted God in whatever circumstances they experienced. He had promised them a wonderful land of their own, but they never possessed it. Instead, they were strangers and refugees even in their own land, yet they looked forward to a better place — that heavenly country that would be theirs for eternity.

I tend not to think about the future when times are tough. Instead, I try to focus on the goodness and wisdom of God and that He has a good plan for whatever I am experiencing. I can think about being with Jesus, both now and forever but other than that, the future is not my here-and-now hope, because life is never certain. I could spend the rest of my life in relative ease, or be a victim of riots and looters, or a painful accident or illness.

Yet in all those possibilities, my faith is learning that I can trust God. He knows the past, the present and the future all at the same time. What He says for my eternal well-being is as true now as it will be when it happens. Because of that, I can trust Him. I’ve not made a list, nor do I focus on earthbound hopes and dreams. I’ve thought how my life may have been different if that were so, yet I am not dissatisfied because of His calling to simply trust in His promises, do as He asks (even though I mess up often). I can set my sights on my heavenly home but choose instead to keep the will of God for this moment, this hour and day, before my face.

PRAY: Jesus, I’m amazed at the grace and blessing of contentment and at the thrill of experiencing You in all of life, accomplishing Your will and often doing it in such a way that it is a lovely surprise. Thank You.

PONDER: “One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.” (Psalm 27:4)