Seeing Beyond Distractions

Seeing Beyond Distractions

2 Corinthians 11: I wish you would tolerate me, even when I am a bit foolish. Please do! ² I am jealous for you, just as God is; you are like a pure virgin whom I have promised in marriage to one man only, Christ himself. ³ I am afraid that your minds will be corrupted and that you will abandon your full and pure devotion to Christ—in the same way that Eve was deceived by the snake's clever lies. ⁴ For you gladly tolerate anyone who comes to you and preaches a different Jesus, not the one we preached; and you accept a spirit and a gospel completely different from the Spirit and the gospel you received from us!

 

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“Why is he talking to me?” I thought to myself as the playground thug stopped me to ask very random questions. I was taking a different route home I usually did not take. He was being oddly nice for a change. Other thugs, who were within sight, began to giggle.

 

I expected being pushed or punched so I braced myself. After the brief conversation, they walked away. Someone said to me, “They were practicing picking your pocket. Didn’t you feel the guy rummaging through your coat?” I did not.

 

• When I get distracted I can be deceived.
• I was too busy looking at the problem to see the deception.
• Instead of staying on the path home, I went to a place where I let the deception happen.

 

Paul tried to soften the blow that people were being deceived into believing a false gospel of salvation. He was afraid that their minds would be corrupted and the pure devotion to CHRIST would be abandoned in trade of another lesser spirit.

 

My Observations

• GOD wants me to remain focused on JESUS as the only way to salvation.
• GOD wants me to accept the promise HE has for me, to be with me for eternity.
• GOD wants me to remain devoted to CHRIST as my Savior.

 

Distractions are in abundance these days. I mean anyone could raise up a cause and speak boldly about it and be justified in what is being said. BUT GOD wants me to surrender my life to the one and only truth, namely JESUS.

 

When I can name a human or a group of humans as having “the answer” I fall prey to being distracted from the purpose GOD created me for. I lose sight that I am here for one reason, that is to be pleasing to GOD. I then try to make GOD bow down to my path and decisions BUT HE laughs at the attempt. I am glad JESUS saved me from myself and those who try to steal GOD’s title of being the MOST HIGH.

 

Challenge

• Do you feel the concern of the writer?
• What do you notice about the mind in this passage?
• Will you look beyond the distractions of your circumstances and be led by the HOLY SPIRIT, who was sent by JESUS to live inside those who believe in HIM as the one and only true Savior today?

Habitual Parenting

Luke 2: ⁴¹ His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. ⁴² And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. ⁴³ When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it; ⁴⁴ but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances. ⁴⁵ So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. ⁴⁶ Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. ⁴⁷ And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. ⁴⁸ So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.”

⁴⁹ And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” ⁵⁰ But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them.

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“Wait, I’m forgetting something” I said to myself. I ran back into the house and found my brief case and computer sitting right there on the kitchen floor. I remembered the diaper bag and formula but lost track of other things. I got in the car, started it up and another thought popped in my head. “I’m forgetting something.” I had left my daughter in her bassinette.

• As a parent I have been distracted.
• As a parent I have lost track of things.
• As a parent I have had so many things on my mind that it got overloaded.

Joseph and Mary may have tried a little harder to follow GOD’s rules because of their miracle child. They obediently went to Jerusalem and probably meticulously did everything they were supposed to. They lost track of JESUS in the middle of all of their checklists. BUT JESUS was not lost.

• JESUS says to me “Do not be overwhelmed for I AM with you.”
• JESUS says to me “Quiet your heart and hear ME.”
• JESUS says to me “Allow ME to lead you to still waters.”

Peace and tranquility is a gift GOD wants me to have each day. HE says “Here, have a dose of peace” each day, but sometimes I refuse to take it. I look at the problems of the day and grab those instead. GOD can provide peace so I can hear HIM, all I have to do is listen and accept it.

• Are you in turmoil?
• Is someone in your family distracting you from the peace GOD wants you to have each day?
• Can you slow down for a moment and allow GOD to give you the peace that only comes from HIM?

Sharp Mind

Mark 8: ¹³ And He left them, and getting into the boat again, departed to the other side. ¹⁴ Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, and they did not have more than one loaf with them in the boat. ¹⁵ Then He charged them, saying, “Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.”

¹⁶ And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “It is because we have no bread.”

¹⁷ But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, “Why do you reason because you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive nor understand? Is your heart still hardened? ¹⁸ Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember? ¹⁹ When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments did you take up?”

They said to Him, “Twelve.”

²⁰ “Also, when I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of fragments did you take up?”

And they said, “Seven.”

²¹ So He said to them, “How is it you do not understand?”

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Distracted, I sat in class but none of the information was comprehended. I had other things on my mind and when I tuned in, the instructor was on another topic.

• Sometimes I get distracted.
• Sometimes I cannot comprehend because I get lost thinking of various situations.
• Sometimes understanding is fleeting when I have things on my mind.

With dull, distracted minds, the disciples could not comprehend what JESUS was saying when HE urged them to beware of the Pharisees. JESUS was trying to tell them that even a little desire to be like the Pharisees would ruin a person for eternity. Unfortunately the disciples turned HIS lesson into a blaming session.

• GOD wants my mind to focus on HIS lessons of growth.
• GOD wants me to understand HIS love lessons.
• GOD desires that I wake up my mind to what HE is doing.

Sharp minds have clarity. GOD wants me to clearly see HIS power, HIS love and HIS compassion for me. HE doesn’t want the “situation of the day” to ruin my thoughts of HIM.  HE desires to raise me up. My mind needs to be on HIM daily.

• Are you distracted?
• Is it difficult to hear GOD because of all the clutter in your life?
• Can you take a moment to clear the distractions to focus on GOD’s love for you?

Slip Away

Matthew 14: ²² Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. ²³ After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, ²⁴ and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

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Rock music blasted on one side, rap on the other. I could not concentrate with all of the noise so I slipped away to a quiet location to study. With no distractions, I could comprehend more.

• Sometimes I needed to get away from the distractions.
• Sometimes I needed to get away from the noise.
• Sometimes I needed to get away from everyone around me so I could concentrate.

Concentration sometimes requires solitude in a peaceful setting. JESUS chose a mountainside. My guess is that HE could see the people HE created and pray for them. HE needed total concentration so HE slipped away from the crowds often to pray.

• GOD wants me to slip away from people in order to have concentrated prayer.
• GOD wants me to sometimes have quick prayer and other times deep concentrated prayer.
• GOD wants me to dismiss the crowd, go to a place and pray for those around me.

There is no definition for “real” prayer. I mean sometimes I can only say a few words “Help me LORD” and other times I can feel praise while other times I can feel deep empathy. GOD wants me to take time to communicate with HIM on a regular basis. Slipping away to talk to HIM about anything definitely clears my heart.

• Are you flooded with thoughts?
• Is it very noisy around you?
• Can you slip away to a quiet place so you can concentrate on the LORD?