Focus: December 5, 2011

FOCUS

DEFINITION:

A center of interest and activity; bring into focus a clear vision.

SCRIPTURE:

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11.

What then? Notwithstanding in every way, whether in pretense or truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice. Philippians 1:18.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

In Acts, chapter nine, we are given the account of the Apostle Paul’s conversion. Before Paul was converted to Christianity, his focus had been on the persecuting of Christians. God confronted Paul on the road to Damascus to change his focus. God had temporarily blinded Paul physically so that he could see spiritually. Paul was like an out of focus camera. Before a camera is properly focused the true picture cannot be seen clearly.

When Paul met Jesus he had a clear vision of his out-of focus life. From that point in his life, Paul changed his focus. He focused on Jesus alone and on spreading the message of Jesus’ love and forgiveness that brings salvation to all who believe.

Despite times of great physical discomfort and emotional trials he was consistently focused on the fact that he was under God’s sovereign hand. His focus on the Lord kept him from being resentful and walking away from his faith. He faithfully continued through-out his life to be focused on the Lord and preaching the gospel.

Paul learned early in his walk with the Lord to focus on God’s sovereignty rather than his own will. It is easy to become bitter or feel frustrated with situations that come our way in life. When our focus is not on the Lord, the minute we start thinking that our enemies and difficulties are in control of our circumstances we are in, we are defeated.

In Psalm 103:19, the Psalmist tells us that, “God has established His throne in the heavens, and His sovereignty rules over all.” He is in absolute control and our focus in life needs to be on Him at all times. We may not understand His reasons for permitting hardship or pain in our lives, but His plan is always for our good and His glory. Read the verse we have put above from Jeremiah and this will become clearer to you.

We can learn, as believers, from Paul. He was focused on his godly purpose rather than on personal gain. For example pain, whether in the body or the heart, often absorbs all of our attention. Paul’s words and life style reminds us that there is no victory to be had when we dwell on our hurts. For example, Paul rejoiced when the guards that were guarding him while he was in jail found Christ. That was where his focus was --- not on his situation in that jail.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Proverbs 19:17.

He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, and He will pay back what he has given.

PRAYER:

Help me and my family to focus today on our heavenly Father, and Your love and Your goodness. Keep us from allowing trials and suffering to defeat us and cause us to lose our focus on Jesus and His message of love and salvation.