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Scripture for the day: Philippians 3:12-14 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Thought for the day: I had every good intention of getting some much needed chores done yesterday, but I got distracted. I had every good intention of getting the necessary tools out of storage, drawing up a plan of attack, and looking back at the end of the day with a genuine sense of accomplishment as I looked at all I’d done, but I got distracted. And do you know what's worse? I can't remember today what it was that so attracted my attention that I lost sight of what I was supposed to be doing. Isn't that shameful?
But isn't it the same for most of us? We get up in the morning with every good intention of doing our best for the Lord, spending time with Him, living so as to please Him - and then we get distracted, we lose our focus for just a few minutes and suddenly wake realizing we're so far off track we may never find our way back and we've wasted valuable time doing countless things that have no eternal consequence whatsoever. O.K. maybe that's not you, and if it's not then I admire you for you're probably living your life as one of the elite minority of people who's got it all together. Blessings on you for your diligence.
But for the vast majority of us distractions are a way of life, not an occasional interruption. The question is: how do we handle these things that would confront, overwhelm and drive us to such distraction that we can't seem to accomplish the smallest things for His glory, let alone maintain any sort of consistent focus on the goal of pleasing Him. Someone once said: "Every Christian needs half an hour of prayer each day except when he or she is busy. Then they need an hour." Oh, how true that is! How often we find our real focus being clarified when we simply determine that we will take time out for God.
When Napoleon wanted to invade Italy, he saw only his goal. The Alps that stood in his way were only something to be crossed on his way. When Washington saw the Hessians at Trenton, he knew their defeat was his primary goal. He didn't bother to consider the ice-choked Delaware River except as something to be crossed on his way to achieving his goal. A young lady intent on bettering herself and getting an education will keep her goal of graduation in mind at all times so that the difficulties of seemingly endless classes, part-time jobs and excruciating exams become just those things that must be endured in reaching the goal.
The majority of people will get up each day and begin to focus on the obstacles they face. But those who would please the Lord will see their goal, the hope that lies beyond the challenge. What's your goal for today? What about tomorrow? For Paul it was to please the Lord, to know Him, to become more like Him. The prison experiences, beatings, shipwrecks and other hardships he experienced were simply things to be endured or conquered on the way to the goal.
Oh, that we would have that sort of focus every day.
Now go take on your world. - Bill