Where’s Waldo?
Ever do “Where’s Waldo?” puzzles? What is the technique at work in a “Where’s Waldo?” puzzle? Busy-ness, distraction, sensory overload. Isn’t that how the devil works? He wants us distracted by busy-ness of living, preoccupied with everyday life, sucked into the world’s way. Play now, pay later. Mat 7:13-14 Enter by the narrow gate. If I get my focus off of the things of God, I am soon back in old habits, old responses.
Luke 2:41-52 Mary lost Jesus. Was there a time when you felt close to Jesus but now He seems distant, a time when you were on fire but now it is hard to open your Bible? I have a ringtone assigned to my wife’s calls. “Corinne’s calling. Better answer the phone. It’s Corinne.” I know what voice I better listen to. What voices are important in your life?
1 John 2:15 “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” Mat 6:24 No one can serve two masters. Romans 8:7 Focus on self, a fleshly mind is an enemy of God. Deut 6:5 Love the Lord your God with your whole heart, mind, soul and strength.
Mat 13:3-9 Seed among thorns is the busy-ness of life. Mat 7:24-27 Built on the rock or built on the sand. On sand means no commitment, easily move, only follows when everything is going right. On the rock, will stand in time of adversity and trial. In Acts 20:24 Paul has described persecution, imprisonment, stoning, shipwrecks but he concludes with: “None of these things move me.” That is focus. Better be prepared beforehand or you will be moved by circumstances.
Romans 12:1 Living sacrifice is our reasonable service. To be a living sacrifice takes determination, follow through. I made a decision for Jesus at 12 but had no follow through. Again at 24 but no follow through. Again at 32 and that one stuck. All that time I was religious on the outside but only going through the motions.
People in the Bible who had focus: Mark 5:25-34 Woman with a bleeding condition. Mark 2:4 Four friends carrying the paralytic. Mat 14 Peter walks on water until he lost focus. Others got off focus: Gen 19:26 Lot’s wife. Exodus 16 Israelites wanted to go back the Egypt.
Discipline and perseverance. 2Tim 2:3 The discipline of a good soldier. Heb 6:12 Through faith and perseverance we will inherit the promise. Heb 12:1-2 Surrounded by cloud of witnesses, run the race with endurance. Who for the prize set before Him endured the cross. I could not pay the price for my sin, but Jesus did. That is worth my focus.
Getting focus:
- Plan Make the decision. Luke 9:62 Any man who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is not fit for the kingdom. James 1:8 Double minded man. No plan B.
- Prepare Luke 14:28 Before building a tower first count the cost. Eph 6:10-19 Armor of God Training
- Press Phil 3:13-14 Press toward the goal.
Where’s Waldo? I don’t really care. In your life, where’s Jesus? “Thinking is the hardest thing we as humans do. That is why so few do it.” It is time to plan, to prepare, to press.
