Objective: Invest your life in eternity. Put Christ and his kingdom first in your life. Be devoted to him in all you think, say, and do.
Diamond Quotes:
“Diamonds
Are a Girl’s Best Friend,” is not actually a quote but a jazz song introduced
by Carol Channing in the original Broadway production of Gentlemen Prefer
Blonds (1949).
“A diamond is forever.” –campaign slogan for NW Ayer Agency
Pecos Diamond Factoid: Pecos River valley diamonds are classified as “authigenic” quartz—meaning it is formed in the rock where it is found.
If you claim to be a Christian, then you have already made certain choices in your life. You have chosen to love God. You have chosen to put Christ “first” in your life. You have chosen to look forward to a blessed eternity in God’s kingdom when Christ returns to claim us as his own. Most of us have a clear understanding of what we need to do. But the real question is how are we supposed to do this? What does it mean to put Christ and his kingdom first?
Over and over again, Moses instructed the Israelites to love God and keep his commandments. Joshua and Solomon also repeated these instructions. In fact, Jesus teaches us that loving God is the first and greatest commandment. And later, John reminds us in his first epistle that keeping God’s commands are not burdensome.
Deuteronomy 13:4 It is the LORD your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him.
Joshua 24:14-15 Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. … But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve. … But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT) Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.
Matthew 22:37-38 Jesus replied, “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.”
1 John 2:17 The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.
1 John 5:3 This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome.
I think we all agree on these points. But that still answers the question of what we are supposed to do, and not necessarily how we are supposed to accomplish it. Those of you who know me, know that I’m an easily distracted person—believe me, with a mind that is constantly pinging off the walls and hopping down bunny trails, it doesn’t take much for me to lose my focus. So how does a person stay focused on Christ and his kingdom in a world so full of distractions? The answer might be a little more simplistic than we think. In fact, the Philippians must have had a similar problem, because together, Paul and Timothy sent them a “how-to-stay-focused” checklist:
Is it true? Is it noble? Is it right? Is it pure? Is it lovely? Is it admirable? Is it excellent? Is it praiseworthy? If so, then these are the things on which you should focus!
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Gracious Heavenly Father,
We have made the decision to put you and your kingdom first in our daily lives. Thank you for understanding our weaknesses, our lack of focus, and how easily we can be distracted by things in the world. Thank you for providing a practical daily guide in your Word to keep away the distractions. Forgive us when we fail you and set us back on the right path.
In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, Amen.
The devotional Stay Focused appeared first for a Pecos Diamonds Devotional series, written and compiled by Dotty Willmon, August-September 2018;
updated and posted September 2024 on Write From My Heart at
https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com
email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com
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