Friday, May 9, 2024
Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2 (CSB)
A Distracted Heart
Spiritually speaking we all have an inability to stay focused. These verses in Hebrews show us three things: 1.) The focused heart of Jesus 2.) The distracted heart we tend to have and 3.) The heart God desires us to have.
Is your heart focused? Or is it at times distracted? We are all aware of the dangers of texting while driving. Or, what about putting makeup on while driving, reading while driving and all of the other things people tend to do while driving? It seems we all feel that driving is such a natural and simple thing to do that it does not require our full attention. Some might even say, “I can do that with my eyes closed!” (Let’s hope it is just a figure of speech.)
Sadly, too many people seem to believe the same about their faith. Our faith should not be put on autopilot. When that happens our spiritual journey can easily get pulled off course. The writer of Hebrews calls on us to be careful not to get bogged down and tangled up in the affairs of life to the degree that it distracts from our spiritual purpose.
Remember Martha. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks, and she came up and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to serve alone? So tell her to give me a hand.”
The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things; Luke 10:40-41 CSB
Jesus reminded her that she was distracted ... she had lost the proper focus. We all commend Martha for her serving heart ... and surely Jesus did too. But sometimes we serve to the point we forget why we are serving and the service becomes more important than the ones we are serving. We do the right thing in the wrong way. We develop a distracted or an unfocused heart, but it is at the heart level that we maintain our focus. Jesus wants to focus our hearts by being the Shepherd of our hearts. When he saw the crowds, he felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9:36 CSB
We have planners, cell phones, and iPads to help us stay focused. Yet the reality is all of our hearts become distracted with this or that. And it is not that the distraction is bad ... like Martha ... but it is just not the main focus of what God wants in our lives. God desires that our heart focus be the heart and life of Jesus.
Whatever motivates us is what we focus on. Why we do what we do is important to God because it determines who or what we serve. A distracted heart will keep us from the fulfillment God desires us to know. Beware the “second bests” in life that conflict with our focus.
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. Matthew 6:33 CSB
