Stay Focused On The Lord

We live in a world where we are surrounded by sin, and confronted with it on every hand.   We are often told that we should not judge others, but as we saw in a previous post, it is not being judgmental to say that certain actions are wrong, and imply a person is not a Christian.  John returns to the subject in I John 5:18-19.  “We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.  And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.”

Because the Holy Spirit changes the attitudes of those who receive Christ as savior,  they become aware of what they do, and avoid sin, feeling miserable when they do something wrong.  I John 3:9-10 states, “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.”  He cannot be satisfied living in and practicing sin.  When he submits himself to God, Satan’s attacks have little impact as James 4:7 states.  “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” 

Because we have received the Holy Spirit, we can know that we are saved, as Romans 8:16 tells us.  “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:”  While the world around us is full of wickedness, We are God’s children, because Jesus Christ has made propitiation for our sin.  He also gave us his Holy Spirit to teach us what the truth is, according to John 16:13-14.  “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.  He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.”  As a result,  I John 5:20 states, “And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. “ 

Because we know we are children of the true God, and are kept by his power, we don’t need to look for something more or follow other things, whether religious, or simply worldly things such as wealth, or public acclaim.  We can trust God to provide the things we need freely and abundantly.  As a result, I John 5:21 advises us, “Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.”  We should not let ourselves be distracted by our desires for such things as a better income, a new car, a bigger home,  a bigger ministry, or a mate.  We need to stay focused on God, As Jesus stated in Matthew 6:22-34.    

“The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.  But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!  No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.  Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?  Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?  Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?  (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.  Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” (Matthew 6:22-34)

As long as we keep worrying about these things, our life will be inconsistent.   James 1:8 warns, “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”