Turn your Eyes Upon Jesus

on the other side of the road!

From what I know about the heroes of Scripture, your ability to overcome distraction will be the number one determinant of how successful you are on your path to purpose.

David was distracted by pleasure.

Abraham was distracted by fear.

Paul was distracted by pain.

We give our distractions all sorts of names, but at the end of the day, distraction is anything that pulls our attention away from God.

And it can come in many forms.

The first distraction we must face is an all too common one.

But thankfully, one which God has spoken about extensively.

Distraction #1:

The Worries of Life.

Don’t let the life you have distract you from the life you want.

All of us have way too much on our plates:

work commitments, family duties, church volunteering – and the list goes on and on.

But that’s not an excuse God will accept.

In the New Testament, we see Jesus continually going off by himself, making room in his life and schedule to just be with His Father and keep His eyes on the task at hand.

Don’t let the urgent crowd out the important.

Read these verses and ask yourself this question:

What am I prioritizing that is causing me to worry?

Mark 4:19 (NIV)

but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.

Luke 21:34 (NIV)

“Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap.

Matthew 6:31–34 NIV

So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Distraction #2:

Purpose requires progress while fear freezes those who participate in it.

This second distraction may seem overwhelmingly large, but once you take action – you’ll see how hard it falls.

What Scares Us.

In Matthew 14 we read the story of Peter walking towards Jesus on the water.

In my opinion, it is one of the most beautiful and most heart-breaking examples of distraction.

Peter challenged his own faith by asking Jesus to call him onto the water. He stepped out, but after a few steps in he began to sink.

Why is that?

Because Peter started to pay attention to the how of his calling over the who.

He looked at the water, the task, instead of the One who was calling Him.

When we take our eyes off the One who calls, we let fear sink our progress.

Today, read this short story and ask yourself: What’s keeping me from stepping out of the boat?

Matthew 14:28–31 (NIV)

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

“Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

Distraction #3:

Christians falsely believe that every distraction they must battle will be a negative one.

Some destructive opportunity or habit that clearly pulls them away from their spiritual walk.

But this just isn’t the case. It’s important to know that positive things can often be just as detrimental to our purpose as negative ones.

Our Service To God.

Christians need to internalize this truth: Good is the enemy of great. - Jim Collins

In Luke 10, we see Martha doing a good thing: preparing the dinner for Jesus and his disciples.

We catch her in the middle of serving, fulfilling her duty.

And yet, she is the one Jesus corrects.

It’s so easy for us to get distracted by the good things we are doing for God that we forget to actually be with God.

Jesus says in Luke 10:42

When we confine ourselves to doing good things for God, we cut ourselves off from the great things He has for us.

Luke 10:42 NIV

but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

What great thing do you feel God has put on your heart to accomplish?

And what good thing might you have to eliminate in order to reach it?

Luke 10:38–42 NIV

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Distraction #4:

Distractions have a few different sources.

Many of them grow out of desires and false beliefs we hold inside ourselves.

Others come from outside—from the environments we’re in, the voices we listen to, and even the people we love.

This one might be difficult to work through, but it’s vital to understand so that it doesn’t knock you off track.

What Others Want For Us.

Sometimes those closest to us, the ones we love and who know us best, aren’t the ones who will help us get to what’s next.

Paul says it so powerfully in Galatians 1:10 ,

Galatians 1:10 NIV

Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

You can almost hear the volume in his voice as we read this.

What are we here for!?

Whose opinion matters in the end?

Let me answer this on his behalf: you are not here to be the person others think you should be.

You are here to become the person God created you to be.

No apologies.

No compromises.

In what area of your life have you allowed other voices to direct you more than your own?

Conclusion:

As we conclude our exploration of distractions, let's reflect on the profound insights we've uncovered.

Distractions, whether they stem from worries, fears, busyness, or external influences, have the power to derail us from our divine purpose.

From the struggles of David, Abraham, and Paul, we learn that even the most faithful can succumb to distractions.

But in recognizing these distractions, we also find the pathway to overcoming them.

Now, let's take a moment to ask ourselves:

- What worries are consuming my thoughts and diverting my focus from God's purpose for me?

- In what areas of my life do I let fear paralyze me, preventing me from stepping out in faith?

- Am I prioritizing busyness in service over intimacy with God, neglecting the greater things He has for me?

- Whose approval do I seek above God's, and how does it hinder my spiritual journey?

These questions beckon us to confront our distractions and realign our focus on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.

Let us commit to turning our gaze towards Him, trusting in His guidance and provision as we navigate life's challenges.

Closing Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we come before You with humble hearts, acknowledging the distractions that often pull us away from Your divine purpose.

Grant us the wisdom to recognize these distractions and the strength to overcome them through Your grace.

Help us to fix our eyes on Jesus, the source of our faith and the anchor of our souls.

As we depart from this place, may Your Spirit continue to work in our hearts, guiding us towards a deeper intimacy with You.

Empower us to prioritize Your kingdom above all else, trusting in Your promises and provision for our every need.

We commit ourselves afresh to walking in obedience to Your will, Lord, and we ask for Your continued guidance and protection on our journey.

In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.