misplaced focus

One of the greatest dangers we face in our pursuit of Jesus is the "good things" that can subtly shift our focus away from Him. Jesus warned that the thief would come and attempt to kill, steal, and destroy. We usually assume that the thief is some evil thing or sin that steals our life, some terrible thing like immorality, substance abuse, or violence. I believe that the most insidious thief poses as things we would call good, things that seem right to us.


Let me illustrate. A young man recently related to me how he had been part of a church who had stressed that God has a specific destiny for each person. While that teaching is correct, he realized that at some point he placed the pursuit of his destiny ahead of his pursuit of God. In so doing, he made his God-given destiny his idol. It happened for me as well. For years I pursued God because I needed Him for successful ministry. It was not until several years ago that I realized that I did not pursue God for Him, I pursued Him for what He could do for me.

We so often subtly shift our focus away from God on to some good thing - things like church, ministry, work, family, worship, prayer etc. In so doing, we sacrifice abundant life; we sacrifice the fruit of the Holy Spirit (love, joy, peace, etc). Our life becomes consumed with activity and busyness; God 's presence is more of a token afterthought than an ever present reality.

Return to Him, to the simplicity of relationship, to life, abundant life. Pursue Him, not ministry or church, or any other good thing that seeks to steal your focus.