Wednesday, July 23, 2008

What is God focusing on?


Non professional shutter bugs like me, find the compact cameras so versatile and easy to use. Wide screen view finders, pocket size dimensions, anti-shake and a wide range of professional features at the turn of a dial, makes photography so much fun. One of those features that ensure a sharp image every time is the auto focus button. A simple convenience that ensures no more blurry photos. The camera automatically measures the distance of the object, light intensity and tunes the lens to catch the image clearly.

Wont it be good, if our lives had an inbuilt auto-focus on things that matter the most at every moment in time. Sadly, we dont have it in-built. This accounts for how easily we misplace our priorities, get distracted to other minor things, derailed by problems and leave important things undone. Great aspirations easily get crowded out by urgent but unimportant matters. The sweet sounds of pleasure lure us to stay longer to indulge our appetites for yet another day.

We desperately need to learn how to keep our lives in focus. Discipline the mind and the body. The book of Hebrews tell s us to 'fix our eyes on Jesus.' Philippians 3:13,14 says ' Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.'

4 areas to deal with...
# Deal with the Past.
# Deal with what is Pretty. It may be pretty but it is not the prize.
# Deal with what is Pushing you. It may be circumstances, it may be people, it may be your own desires pushing you along. You have to set your own sails. You have to set the course and not others. Move in the direction of accomplishing the greatest good. Don't drift along.
# Deal with Pleasure. Pleasure in itself is not wrong. The problem with it is that it easily interferes with strong action and the sacrifices required to do great things.

One area that you and I need to focus and turn on the spotlights is EVANGELISM - bringing people to experience the love of Jesus. Sharpen the Evangelism focus. Work while it is day. Hopelessness and anxiety is sweeping across communities and nations. It requires us to channel our energies, time, resources and talents to reach out to people. This is the period of the open door and window for the wonderful people in Malaysia. They are searching for answers. We have the key that unlocks the answers - Jesus.

Focus on God and God will help you focus on people that needs to know Him.