Hebrews 12:1-3
There are three exhortations in this section: let us throw off whatever hinders, let us run the race with perseverance and consider Jesus. All three flow out of the fact that there is a great cloud of witnesses who have a vested interest in our success. The author has indicated that the promise they were pursuing all their lives is only attained together with us. After talking about the faith of all these spiritual ancestors, the author return the focus of the book squarely back on Christ: fix your eyes on Jesus... consider him.
Chapter 11 does not take the focus off of Christ but backs up and takes the longer view: remember Abel? He was looking forward to the Seed. Remember Abraham? He was looking forward to the Blessing. Everything that the people of faith were building their lives on was anchored in Christ, the Seed promised to Eve and the Blessing promised to Abraham. So, even though the author is celebrating the faith of these people, everything is still centered on Christ.
The author calls the reader to have the same focus. In this case because Jesus provides an example and hope for those who are going through persecution. He endured the cross because he was focused on the joy set before him. The author calls the reader to consider his example so the reader won't grow weary and lose heart.
It's amazing to me how, right in the middle of trials and difficulties, my focus turns inward to myself. This is a good challenge to me. First, get rid of anything in my life that doesn't help me be the person that Christ has called me to be. This is easy to say but hard to do: do the tv shows I watch need to go? Is the music I listen to helping or hindering? Secondly, focus on Jesus. Consider his trials, his persecution, his death and his joy. I need to raise my eyes above the circumstances and see Jesus.
Showing posts with label focus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label focus. Show all posts
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Monday, December 1, 2008
am I blind?
Matthew 6:22-23
The key words in this section are light, darkness, eyes, healthy and unhealthy. Matthew is still recording Jesus' teaching in the Sermon on the Mount. Matthew contrasts having healthy eyes which fills the body with light to having unhealthy eyes which fills the body with darkness. He is obviously using a metaphor for being spiritually blind. I think the key phrase is "the eye is the lamp of the body."
This passage seems to stand on its own in the middle of a section about treasure. Jesus just finished saying that we should store our treasure in heaven and after this he goes on to talk about how we cannot serve both God and money. There are no words - like therefore, but, however, and, etc. - that would connect these verses to the surrounding ones. Some commentaries indicate that "healthy" should be translated "single" and "unhealthy" indicates "double". In this case, there is some connection to the next paragraph where Jesus talks about serving two masters. Jesus would therefore be saying that the person who tries to focus on heaven and this earth at the same time will see neither clearly. Because the eyes were believed to be the windows through which light entered the body, Jesus could be saying that if our spiritual eyes are focused and we are single minded, then our whole being is lit up with the benefits that come from that focuse and purpose. If our spiritual eyes are not focused on one thing, then our whole being becomes confused and infected.
The point, from looking at the previous passage and the next one, is clear: my focus should be on heaven. My heart should find its home there and my purpose must be clear: to serve God and store treasure in heaven. Jesus is combatting the notion that we can have it both ways. This fits with what he says about seeking, above everything, God's kingdom and righteousness. I know that I have been duped by the philosophy of materialism and consumerism. I know that I measure my success and worth by my bottom line and my possessions. I know that my vision is sometimes double. Today I want to focus my spiritual eye on Christ and allow my whole being to be filled with his light.
The key words in this section are light, darkness, eyes, healthy and unhealthy. Matthew is still recording Jesus' teaching in the Sermon on the Mount. Matthew contrasts having healthy eyes which fills the body with light to having unhealthy eyes which fills the body with darkness. He is obviously using a metaphor for being spiritually blind. I think the key phrase is "the eye is the lamp of the body."
This passage seems to stand on its own in the middle of a section about treasure. Jesus just finished saying that we should store our treasure in heaven and after this he goes on to talk about how we cannot serve both God and money. There are no words - like therefore, but, however, and, etc. - that would connect these verses to the surrounding ones. Some commentaries indicate that "healthy" should be translated "single" and "unhealthy" indicates "double". In this case, there is some connection to the next paragraph where Jesus talks about serving two masters. Jesus would therefore be saying that the person who tries to focus on heaven and this earth at the same time will see neither clearly. Because the eyes were believed to be the windows through which light entered the body, Jesus could be saying that if our spiritual eyes are focused and we are single minded, then our whole being is lit up with the benefits that come from that focuse and purpose. If our spiritual eyes are not focused on one thing, then our whole being becomes confused and infected.
The point, from looking at the previous passage and the next one, is clear: my focus should be on heaven. My heart should find its home there and my purpose must be clear: to serve God and store treasure in heaven. Jesus is combatting the notion that we can have it both ways. This fits with what he says about seeking, above everything, God's kingdom and righteousness. I know that I have been duped by the philosophy of materialism and consumerism. I know that I measure my success and worth by my bottom line and my possessions. I know that my vision is sometimes double. Today I want to focus my spiritual eye on Christ and allow my whole being to be filled with his light.
Friday, May 23, 2008
spiritual peek-a-boo?
Colossians 3:1-4
Paul is concerned about what is occupying the attention and affection of the Colossian Christians. The key words are: things above, hidden, appear, life and death. This continues the word picture of being dead to our sinful desires and raised to a new life with new desires in Christ. It also connects to 2:13-15 in that this is another conclusion of that truth (the previous conclusions were that we no longer have to try to earn God's favour through observing rituals and rules). The main argument of this passage is that since we are raised with Christ, we are dead to the philosophies and desires of this world and our sin nature. Therefore, instead of focusing our attention and affection on worldly philosophies, we should focus our attention and affection on heavenly philosophies and desires.
My life has become intricately connected to Christ and so my life is now hidden in Christ. I think what Paul is saying here is that my desires (my attention and affection) have been imprinted in Christ and only when Christ appears will my desires be fulfilled. At least that's the way it should be. It reminds me of playing peek-a-boo with Zach - if I get distracted and forget to come out of hiding, he makes noise and tries to get my attention again because his joy is fulfilled when he sees my smile and my face. The cool thing is that he has a half-smile on his face because he is already anticipating the joy and fun of my face being revealed.
The application is obvious: I wait with eager anticipation for Christ's smiling face to appear in all its glory because only then will my joy, my affection and my desires be truly fulfilled. In the meantime I am too often distracted by the ideas, desires and philosophies of this world. Jesus, may my affection and attention be directed only to you and may I wait with eager anticipation, with a smile on my face because I know that when you appear all my desires will be met and my joy will be full. The core of my heart longs only for you - nothing else will satisfy me.
Paul is concerned about what is occupying the attention and affection of the Colossian Christians. The key words are: things above, hidden, appear, life and death. This continues the word picture of being dead to our sinful desires and raised to a new life with new desires in Christ. It also connects to 2:13-15 in that this is another conclusion of that truth (the previous conclusions were that we no longer have to try to earn God's favour through observing rituals and rules). The main argument of this passage is that since we are raised with Christ, we are dead to the philosophies and desires of this world and our sin nature. Therefore, instead of focusing our attention and affection on worldly philosophies, we should focus our attention and affection on heavenly philosophies and desires.
My life has become intricately connected to Christ and so my life is now hidden in Christ. I think what Paul is saying here is that my desires (my attention and affection) have been imprinted in Christ and only when Christ appears will my desires be fulfilled. At least that's the way it should be. It reminds me of playing peek-a-boo with Zach - if I get distracted and forget to come out of hiding, he makes noise and tries to get my attention again because his joy is fulfilled when he sees my smile and my face. The cool thing is that he has a half-smile on his face because he is already anticipating the joy and fun of my face being revealed.
The application is obvious: I wait with eager anticipation for Christ's smiling face to appear in all its glory because only then will my joy, my affection and my desires be truly fulfilled. In the meantime I am too often distracted by the ideas, desires and philosophies of this world. Jesus, may my affection and attention be directed only to you and may I wait with eager anticipation, with a smile on my face because I know that when you appear all my desires will be met and my joy will be full. The core of my heart longs only for you - nothing else will satisfy me.
Friday, February 23, 2007
Consumed
This was done Feb. 19 but I didn't have access to the internet
1 Timothy 4:15-16
Paul told Timothy to give himself wholly to setting an example for the believers, to reading Scripture publicly, to teaching and preaching and to using his gift. This was what was to consume Timothy’s life. As I look at the list, it seems pretty broad and overwhelming to me. I am the type of person that needs one thing to focus on. This, especially when I look at all the things that Timothy was supposed to set an example in, is a very long list of things. Far be it from me to disagree with Paul (there’s no sense in arguing with an inspired writer of Scripture) but I think I prefer Jesus’ priority: Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. All of these things that Paul tells Timothy to devote his life to fall into the category of the kingdom of God and His righteousness but I like the single minded focus of Jesus’ teaching. This gives me something to measure my life against: does this promote the kingdom of God or God’s righteousness in my life? I really want that to consume my life!
1 Timothy 4:15-16
Paul told Timothy to give himself wholly to setting an example for the believers, to reading Scripture publicly, to teaching and preaching and to using his gift. This was what was to consume Timothy’s life. As I look at the list, it seems pretty broad and overwhelming to me. I am the type of person that needs one thing to focus on. This, especially when I look at all the things that Timothy was supposed to set an example in, is a very long list of things. Far be it from me to disagree with Paul (there’s no sense in arguing with an inspired writer of Scripture) but I think I prefer Jesus’ priority: Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. All of these things that Paul tells Timothy to devote his life to fall into the category of the kingdom of God and His righteousness but I like the single minded focus of Jesus’ teaching. This gives me something to measure my life against: does this promote the kingdom of God or God’s righteousness in my life? I really want that to consume my life!
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