Last week, we looked at how the disciples, even though Jesus was with them, still lost their focus because of the storm.  After we have begun to experience a relationship with Jesus we can lose our focus also.  We look for our own solutions and feel frustrated when they don’t work out because we forget to seek God as to what would be the best way to handle it.

We remember the promises God offers us but we forget the steps we must take to assure we will receive them.

Matthew 6:33-34 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

We squander our time on the worries of the world, forgetting to seek God in the current moment.

We don’t seek God in part because there are two positions we like to consider with God.  We want God near when we want His protection and power on our side.  Recognizing sin in our lives and feeling trapped by it can make God, seeming far away, more appealing.  When we are experiencing God from far away we can lose our focus.   We want Jesus to fit into our lives, instead of realizing we need to step up into the life Christ has for us.

Isaiah 55:8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.   “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

We learn more from this world than we like to admit.  We have experienced it, we might even admit it is not the best but it seems to work well enough.  We follow fallen world guidelines because we settle for less when there is another option.

We don’t trust God because we don’t know Him.  If we were in danger we would not trust a stranger on the street with our child or money, but we would trust a close friend.  God wants to be that close friend we trust to rescue us.

Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

The adversary masquerades as Jesus to lead us down the road to destruction.  We need to keep our focus on Christ in order to follow as He leads us up the road to eternal life.

Written and posted by Joyce E Poggensee

Verses referenced: Matthew 6:33-34, Isaiah 55:8-9, Matthew 7:13-14