Focus and Source: Thoughts on Hebews 12:2 Part One

"keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source..." Hebrews 12:2

Keeping your eyes on something allows you to maintain focus.

I had an old track coach tell me, find a spot above and past the finish line and than focus on it the entire time I was running. This trained my head and eyes to look up and not bobble my head around aimlessly.

Have you caught yourself wandering aimlessly before?

I find myself in the super-market walking around aimlessly a lot sometimes.  The boys and I were looking for Juilo's salsa the other day in HEB.  After walking around aimless, I asked an employee where to find it. He directed me to aisle 8.  After slowly walking down aisle 8, I decided it was not there.  I found a manager, they directed me to the fruit and vegetable section.  It was not there. Than I found whom seemed to be a super important guy and he said, it's by the milk.  He processed to lead Landon, Logan and myself to the exact location. Julio's salsa had been waiting for us there the entire time!

Did you catch that?  Sometimes I wasn't aimless, I had been given information, but it happened to be wrong.  Not until I went to a credible source, I was aimed right and we found success.

This happens sometimes in various ways: we chase after worldly things and completely miss Jesus, we think we know Jesus, but have no clue who Jesus is, we pretend we know Jesus or focus on small details of the faith and this distracts us from Jesus.  It happens to us all sometimes in some form or fashion.

When we are focusing on anything other than Jesus, we have the potential to walking aimlessly.

What's your focus?

The passage says, "the source and perfecter of our faith."  He is our source.  There is no substitute - just Jesus. Putting our focus on our source helps maintain our aim.

When your hairdryer is unplugged, it is disconnected from the power source.  Therefore, your hair is still wet. When we are disconnected from Jesus, we are living in our flesh.

Focus on the source: Jesus.

Blessings.

Jesus All Over You

"Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus." Acts 4:13

Recently hearing a sermon on the above passage, it made me think, is Jesus all over everything you do? These two men had just told a man of 40 years to get up, in Jesus name and he did! Obviously, this was an amazing thing for the man and his friends, but we find in scripture some folks were, "greatly annoyed," (Acts 4:2).

I can tell you, folks are still becoming "greatly annoyed," with Christians - in and outside the church. The only answer is Jesus.

• Physical violence does not solve the problem. 
• Hateful words do not solve the problem. 
• Gossiping to your BFF (best friend forever) does not solve the problem. 
• Backstabbing someone does not solve your problems.
• Arguing till you're blue in the face does not solve the problem.

Peter tells those who were annoyed, "let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead - by him this man is standing before you well" (Acts 4:10).

It was so obvious, even to those annoyed, that these men were Christ-like. Just the very presense and proclamation that it was Jesus who healed this man, took there guard down and there was response was, "What shall we do with these men?"

Stumped!

Can you imagine those annoyed standing around looking at one another asking one another, "What shall we do with these men?"

When Jesus is in it, He is going to protect you and I. Let those whom you may have annoyed see Jesus and not you.

What if they miss seeing Jesus? Take it to Him in prayer:  "For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me: they have spoken against me with a lying tongue. They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause. For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer," Psalm 109:2-4.

Concerning other Christians - Ask questions.  When things seem against you or against Christ, go ask questions - sometimes what our perceived notion of hostility or annoyances, maybe perverted (which just means twisted). When we confront issues, we build relationships.  When we ignore or become jaded, we don't care about the relationship.  Go, get to know someone and in the process, learn where they are with the Lord (Romans 1:11-12). Always attempt to be as Acts 4:13 says, but that includes humility.

Jesus is well aware of your situation and what you are doing on His behalf.  Jesus, "...came to seek and save the lost," (Luke 19:10).  We are all works in progress.

Continue to share the love of Jesus and do it, "bold[ly]."  The world and the church need more Jesus and those will to step out and serve Him.  Where do you fit in?

Blessings.

Frei Ministries

Our family has officially moved to the Philippines. James, Ashley, Daniel, Lydia and Samuel are all living in Malay.
 

Ashley said, "We believe God has called our family to serve the people of the Philippines, specifically in a home for orphaned childern...[we will be] opening a brand new children's home..."
 

In Isaiah 6:8 it says, "And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.” I am so excited James and Ashley heard the call and proclaimed, "Send me!"

You can go to their website to read more:
 

www.freiministries.com
 

Please be praying for them as they serve. Also remember the immediate family back home, although we know they are exactly where they are supposed to be, we already miss them.
 

Has God called you to do or say something to further His kingdom? What are you waiting for? Serve Him.
 

Blessings.