We live in an age of distraction
“We live in an age of distraction.” I heard this on a recent Joyce Meyer’s show “Enjoying
Everyday Life” and it resonated with me.
So much so that I used my cell phone to email it to myself so that I
would remember to meditate on it. I
spent some time today meditating on this phrase. All of these distractions and noise can
interfere with our relationship with Jesus Christ, resulting in turning away
from God. The distractions become enticing, alluring, seemingly offering joy
and comfort. They can become the very bonds that keep us from focusing on God and our relationship with Jesus Christ.
You cannot even drive around town or down the highway
without an endless barrage of advertising and messages. These messages tell us that we need (we must
have) the newest, the latest, the best, the tastiest, the sexiest. And it is not just advertising. Once considered a novelty, 24 hour news
channels are now the norm. We are
connected constantly to our phones, email, Facebook, texts, and here I am
typing my next blog post. Our attention
is pulled in so many different directions.
It has been said that this is the age of multitasking. But brain research and study shows that
multitasking is far from a practical approach.
The human brain is designed to focus on one thing at a time.
On a side note, New Life Church in Farmville, Virginia just
wrapped up its annual Christmas musical program. It was actually a good thing that cell phones
interfered with the wireless microphone system during the performance. So audience members were asked and instructed
to turn off their phones. And for 90
minutes I was disconnected from the world outside. And it was nice to focus only on the action
on the stage and the story of the prodigal son.
The Bible says in 1 Kings 11: 1-43 (http://bible.com/111/1ki.11.1-43.niv)
that distraction is the enemy of
direction and focus. As leaders (and believers
who follow Jesus Christ) we need to be aware of the distractions that get in
the way of fulfilling God’s call on our lives and fulfilling God’s will on
earth. The temptations the tempted and
enticed Solomon continue to attack every leader. Leaders who may have once been revered and
respected can lose that respect when they become distracted.
John Maxwell points out 6 things Solomon experienced when he
lost his focus and lived life his way.
The distractions themselves pushed him away from his call to lead and be
a light to the nations. Next God raised
up several adversaries to try to drive Solomon back to his call. Solomon became self-absorbed and consumed by
his needs rather than his call from God.
God withdrew His anointing and Solomon experienced the loss of God’s
presence. With the loss of the presence
of God, Solomon continued his own pursuit of pleasure and become more and more
obsessed with these experiences. Finally Solomon grew empty after following his
own pursuits instead of those from God.
When we become satisfied with false joys we can quickly begin a downward
spiral. Being distracted causes us to
lose focus. Once focus is lost we begin
looking into the wrong things, false joy, and we look to fulfill the pleasures
of the flesh instead of the will of God.
Luke 4: 18-29 offers an example of how Christ was not
distracted from his mission and anointing.
18
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom
for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the
blind,
to set the oppressed free,
19
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
20Then he rolled
up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone
in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21He
began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” 22All
spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his
lips. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked.
23Jesus said to them, “Surely
you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Physician, heal yourself!’ And you will tell
me, ‘Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.’ ”
24 “Truly I tell
you,” he continued, “no prophet is accepted in his hometown. 25I assure you that there were many
widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the sky was shut for three and a half
years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. 26Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in
Zarephath in the region of Sidon. 27And
there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet
not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.”
28All the people
in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. 29They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow
of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff.
(NIV)
This scripture section opens (Luke 4: 18-19) with Jesus
reading from Isaiah 61: 1 – 2. Jesus
would not be distracted by the fact that His listeners did not want to hear
what He had to say. Jesus is rejected in
his hometown. For so many people rejection
by others can be a powerful distraction.
However Jesus did not allow rejection to become a distraction. Jesus remained fixed on his focus and move on
to the next town to continue His work.
Unlike Solomon Jesus would not allow anything to distract him and drain
his anointing to do the work for which He was set to accomplish.
We need to follow the lead of the Jesus and not allow
anything to distract us from what is important. First and foremost we must keep
our focus firmly upon God. Next if you
are married is your spouse. Then your
kids when given to you. And then your
vocation/career. We need to keep the
right perspective. There are definitely times when I know that my priorities and focus were not in this alignment. I know that I am not where I always need to be, but I can thank God that I am not where I used to be. When we allow
distractions to change the order our focus is at risk of being lost. And God who is loving and just will place
adversaries or other challenges to have us return to Him.
If you have turned away from God and do not have a relationship with Jesus Christ I encourage you to turn to God and run back to God and put your focus on He who is the Redeemer.
Prayer of Confession and Forgiveness.
The Bible says that if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Repent (turn away from distractions and to God), Believe, and be Saved.
Repeat this Prayer:
Most merciful God,
I confess that I am captive to sin and cannot free myself.
I have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed,
by what I have done
and by what I have left undone.
I have not loved you with my whole heart;
I have not loved my neighbors as myself.
For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ,
have mercy on me.
Forgive me, renew me, and lead me,
so that I may delight in your will
and walk in Your ways,
to the glory of your holy name.
Amen.
I encourage you to find a local Church family, let go of the distractions, and begin to follow Jesus Christ through a personal relationship with Him. Ask for the gift of the Holy Spirit to enter your heart.
May God Bless You, and keep you, and make His face shine upon you.
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