Anything That Disrupts Your Focus

Jonah 2:8 (NIV)  Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.

            I enjoy the story of Jonah, particularly because just as Jonah ran away from God (i.e., opposite direction); God delivered him to the exact place he should have been traveling all along. Too often we overlook the little golden nuggets of truth while getting caught up in the story line. Tucked away in the familiar story of Jonah is a small 13-word verse, but what a powerful and timely message it brings; especially during the rush of this holiday season.

            We commonly think about idols as being man-made objects and images to represent any number of false gods. True. However, by definition, an idol is anything which captures your attention, devotion, or admiration. In short, an idol can be anything that draws you away from focusing on God, his Word, or his plan for your life. When I (or we) allow anything to disrupt our focus on God, the consequence is clear—we lose the grace that could have been our during the time we allowed ourselves to be distracted. God grace is abundant and free to all who call upon him—to all who believe. How sad to forfeit even a brief moment of God’s unmerited love and favor because we are too busy with our own worldly agendas or prideful possessions. Both the Old Testament and the New Testament make it perfectly clear:

Exodus 20:3 (NIV)  You shall have no other gods before me.

Matthew 22:37-38 (NIV)  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.”

Gracious Heavenly Father,

            Forgive us when we become so distracted by our calendars and possessions that we neglect our focus upon you. We humbly thank you for the grace you so freely and generously offer. As you redirected Jonah, we humbly ask you to redirect our focus upon you.

                                                            In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

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Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from The Thompson Chain-Reference® Bible, New International Version® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1983 by Zondervan Corporation. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.