A Matter of Focus
Please allow me to suggest some seemingly disconnected questions which all, at least in my opinion, might have the same answer:
Why is it so difficult to find the time to worship and/or participate in a Bible class on a regular basis?’
Why is it that, when I do attend a worship service or Bible class, I don’t seem to get anything out of it?
Do I need to feel like I’ve been entertained by a big production company in order to feel like I’ve really worshiped? Is it helpful if special lighting and other effects are used in order to “create the proper mood?”
Why can I not seem to find any real meaning in life?
Why can I not seem to be able to find contentment or joy?
Why does our preacher seem to always be so negative? Why does he seem to be against everything?
Why does our preacher seem to always be filling his allotted time with “feel good stories?”
What new program, “ministry,” and/or gimmick will the leaders of our congregation come up with next in order to attempt to attract more people?
Why are there so many religious denominations with conflicting and competing practices and doctrines?
Why aren’t all believers in Jesus united? Isn’t that what He prayed for in John 17:20-21?
I suppose I could go on and on, but I will stop there. What could all of those questions possibly have in common? It seems to me that each one of them individually and all of them collectively indicates that there is a real problem with focus.
Really?
Could it really be that simple? Could it possibly be that, instead of focusing on what pleases me, what will draw huge numbers, what proves that I am correct in my understanding of scripture, or what seems to provide me with a sense of meaning in life, we need to instead…
focus on Jesus?!
I would encourage all who read these words to look through your Bible. As you do, you may notice this has been suggested by some, it is divided into four sections:
The King is coming (Genesis – Malachi)
The King is here (the gospels)
The King has come (Romans – Jude)
The King is coming again (Revelation)
There is an abundance of material about worship, meaning in life, the church, personal relationships, fulfilled prophecies, and a host of other matters in your Bible. All of these are subjects that are important and which need to be studied and understood.
At the same time, it seems to me that there is a danger in “chopping the Bible up” into categories like this. The danger is that this type of Bible study may cause us to lose our focus on Jesus.
Please allow me to give just one example of what I mean. I invite you to read that great sermon recorded for us in Acts 2.
We could study that sermon in a variety of ways. We can learn about how the apostles received the Holy Spirit. We can learn a lot about fulfilled prophecies. We can learn about God’s eternal plan. We can learn about the purpose of baptism. We could learn a lot of important and valuable information from that sermon. Each of these suggestions is profitable.
However, the focus of that sermon is how “…Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God…” is now “…Lord and Christ” (vv. 22, 36).
Is it important to understand how the apostles received the Holy Spirit? Do some misunderstandings about that need to be corrected today? Is it informative and important to learn how prophecies were fulfilled on that day (and at other times)? Is it exciting to see how the hand of God works throughout history? Is it important to understand the purpose of baptism and should those who have an erroneous view be corrected?
The answer to all of those questions (and many others) is “yes” – as long as we don’t lose our focus on Jesus!
As we are reminded in the words of a fairly modern song, it might be good to remember to…
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.
To Recieve Every Article from A Legacy of Faith through Email for Free, Click Here
AUTHOR: Jim Faughn
