Justin Tucker, LHBC Worship Pastor
Hebrews 12:1-3
Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Being a father of three children, nearly 50% of my time at home is playing referee between three girls. “How come she gets to wear that?” or “How come she gets to do that and I don’t ?” or they just can’t wait to tattle on one another. Just last night I told Ellie to stop playing in the rocking chair. Not 5 minutes had gone by before Ruby Jo felt the need to inform me that Ellie was still playing in the chair. Ellie’s response…”Ruby, mind your own business.” After that, Ruby asked me to rewind the show she was watching. I told her that if she hadn’t been worrying so much about what Ellie was doing, she wouldn’t have missed out on her show. While Ellie was wrong for being disobedient, she was right about Ruby Jo needing to stay in her lane. Ruby was missing out on what was happening on the show that she was too concerned with what her sister was doing wrong.
How often do we find ourselves doing similar things in our lives? Not focusing on the things that we are called to because we see something new, different, or shiny in our periphery? How many times do we play the comparison game? In the social media culture that we live in, how often do we find ourselves comparing our real life to someone else’s highlight reel on Instagram or Facebook? How often do we allow our own self worth to be judged in the court of public opinion? We do these things all the time. The fact of the matter in all this is that God has created each and every one of us with a purpose and for a purpose. When we deviate from the purpose that He has called us to, we rob Him of the opportunity to be used and blessed by Him. Deuteronomy 5:32 says “So be careful to do what the LORD your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left.” It’s easy to lose focus on what we have been created to do but He wants us to be sold out completely to what He has called us to do. Let’s commit to that this week. If you need to remove distractions like tv or social media to keep you from playing the comparison game…do it. If you need to shut down serving in 5 different areas and focus on the 1 thing that God has designed you for and placed a passion in you for, do it.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Heavenly Father, thank you for creating me with and for purpose. I know that You don’t do anything by accident. Father, forgive me when I lose sight of what You have called me to do. Lord protect me from distractions and playing the comparison game. Lord, allow me to focus solely on you and give you the glory and honor you deserve. Thank you for loving me and thank you for saving me through your son, Jesus. It is His name that I pray, amen.
Psalm 46:11
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.