Hebrews 12:2 "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
Distractions. Losing sight of the goal. It happens to the best of us. Sometimes we just get so focused on what we think is really important that we lose sight of what should be our real priorities. I recently saw this exemplified last week while watching an episode of Untold Stories of the ER. This particular one featured an ER in Hawaii with two surfer dudes as the prime focus. Let me just say that these guys were ADD in action. You see, they had decided to go out spear fishing, and I might add that they actually seemed pretty good at it. Sure enough, one of the guys spotted a beauty of a catch, and with meticulous aim, he got it. The problem? He speared the fish right into his buddy's leg. They arrived at the ER with one main goal. I don't know about you, but I can think of a few things that should have been at the top of their priority list when arriving at the ER. Perhaps questioning if the spear could be removed safely. Perhaps focusing on not bleeding out when the spear was removed. Perhaps getting medical attention to avoid infection. But no. The main goal of the two guys was to save that fish, still entangled between the leg and the spear, so that they could eat it for dinner. I think these two surfers lost sight of what was really important, don't you.
If you've been a member of Groupies4God very long, you might remember that back in September, we learned Hebrews 12:1. It encourages us to persevere in this race called life. This week, we'll memorize verse two of Hebrews twelve, and it tells us how to persevere -- by fixing our eyes on Jesus! That's the goal. Focus on Him, the author and perfecter of our faith! Our faith began and will be finished in Him. He started it, and He's perfecting it in us, daily.
The verse then goes on to say that "for the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, scorning its shame." Do you really think Jesus found joy in going to the cross, and suffering pain and shame for my sins and yours? I don't think so. In fact, in Matthew 26, we see Jesus praying that "the cup pass over Him." I do believe, however, that the joy Hebrews 12:2 is talking about is the good that would come from His death. Jesus knew that by enduring the cross, He would conquer sin and death so that we could have eternal life. It was the greater good. Yes, He gladly went to the cross on our behalf, without distractions.
Honesty time here. If you know me, you probably also know that I have a bent to be just like those surfer guys. When I am extremely stressed, my ADD brain kicks in, and it's hard for me to prioritize the fog clouding my brain. Work, family, and friends distract me from what I know I should be doing.
What about you? What has God called you to do that you aren't focusing on with all your effort? Has He clearly told you to go on a mission trip, and yet you're holding on to your fear? (Matthew 28 says go, that one should be a no-brainer!) Has He asked you to serve in a particular area at church? Maybe it's even more simple than that. Maybe God is telling you to follow Him whole heartedly. He's been pricking your heart to spend more time with Him, praying and reading your Bible daily. What is it? Take some time to write it down. For me, writing it down in ink is the hardest part. That's where I become honest with myself. That's the point of commitment for me, no turning back.
What distractions are in place that keep you from fixing your eyes on Jesus? Financial pressures? Stresses of work? Busyness of life? What about your friends? Yes, even your "bestest" of friends could be distracting you. All these things can lead us to give the same answer the disciples did to Jesus in Matthew 26, "The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." The disciples wanted to pray with Jesus, but they were just so stinking tired! How many times do we use the excuse, "There just aren't enough hours in the day!" Think about it. Search your soul. Ask our Father in Heaven to show you and reveal truth in your life today.
Back to the surfer dudes in the ER. The cool thing is that even though they got distracted from the important issue, the doctor was able to bring their focus back. He was able to help them realize what the real priority should be - removing the spear, not saving the fish. In the end, they actually got the best of both worlds and came back that night with dinner for the doctor, a special thank you gift.
I believe God, the Great Physician, is a lot like that doctor. He helps us gain focus, and He heals us spiritually so that we can accomplish His will. Are you ready to serve without distraction? Are you ready to stop using excuses? Get your pen and paper handy, and get honest with God. No more distractions. No more excuses. And no more ADD surfer moments.
---Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com