Hello!
It’s been a few busy days, trying to get the final work done on my book. We have chosen the cover and finished the bibliography, so the end is in sight. It is always exciting at this point in publication, but also some anxiousness stalks the corners of my mind! So many details with timing being pretty important.
Anyway, with all that said, I really want to examine some of what I wrote about last week…our focus on God in worship and praise. I find myself with my mind wandering as I sit before Him. Not too long ago I wrote a meditation following a message from my pastor that challenged me to look at my priorities. I share that with you now.
FOCUS
“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.
And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.” 1 John 3:16
Love dictates our focus.
Like an etching on glass,
what we really love
grows in magnitude under
the microscope through which
we peer at life.
Is it Jesus?
Is our desire to love like He does?
Or do we only see the selfish needs
that demand our attention.
I am challenged to examine the specimen
that defines my motivations, fuels my behavior.
Perhaps there is a fresh need clamoring for perusal.
A need to serve, not myself, but others;
serving from love, like Jesus does,
seeing lacks, hurts and pain,
and reaching out with the right motivation…
Love.
Because He first loved me.
Oh, how that would change
the slide under my life’s microscope;
not one etched with my needs,
but the things that break the heart of Jesus.
© Lois Williams
I’m focused on so many things right now, but what I really want is to find my way to an undivided heart, a heart totally focused on Him. This reminds me of a story I heard not too long ago. A busy father was working in his office, while his little son played nearby, happy just to be with his dad. Wanting to get a bit of attention, he said, “Dad,” to which his father replied, “Yes, Son, I’m here” without taking his attention from what he was doing. Again the little boy said, “Dad!” Twice more this happened, with no change in the father’s absorption in his work. Finally frustrated, the little boy said very loudly, “Dad, I want you to listen to me with your face!”
I thought about this and about our relationship with God. We want Him to listen to us with His face, His total attention. Is it not to be assumed that He, too, wants us to listen to Him with OUR face? To be absorbed in what He is showing us, telling us. Hearing Him and letting all else fade into the background for a time. As the poem above says, “love dictates our focus”; thus the real question is, “Do I love Him?” One more quote! This from a hymn, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.” Amen. That beautiful, wonderful face that sees us with unfathomable love, longs for our willing focus.
I am challenged.
Til next time,
Love,
Lois