Doves On Distant Oaks

The Man in the Middle

Focus is a hard thing to achieve, and even harder to maintain. Just when we think we have everything under control, our focus slips away. As my father was fond of saying: "Its like trying to nail jello to a tree."

The problem is something we call distractions. We may be in the middle of a prayer, when out of nowhere we remember we need to get the oil changed in our car. We may be in the middle of reading our Bible, when all of a sudden we realize we have just read five paragraphs and can't remember a single thought. We may be making positive changes as we work toward our sanctification when we hit our finger with a hammer and anger takes over.. Focus … it can be a beast.

Then there's the distractions of worldly things that keep us from even starting to pray or read the Bible. These are the things that Satan throws at us, hoping they find a chink in our armor. Distractions like the television, the internet, our smart phones are constantly trying to steal time from us—time that is better spent in communion with our Lord. Scrolling has become a new national pastime.

Not long ago, my wife and I took a class in gun safety. Our instructor told us that we have three … and only three … things to think trying to hit the target. That's the rear sight, the front sight, and the target. The problem is, the human mind cannot focus on more than one thing at a time. You may be a multitasker, but that just means you may have a dozen balls in the air, but your mind is only focused on the one in your hand, So, our instructor told us that the key was to focus on the front sight—the one in the middle.

If you've read your Bible, recall where Jesus was crucified … between two thieves. He was the one in the middle. And that's exactly where our focus should be—on Christ, the man in the middle. If we keep our focus on Him, then our focus will stay sharp and we won't miss the mark. That's what sin means, missing the mark.

I understand, we can't read and think about Jesus. We can't pray and always have Jesus on our mind. We can't hammer and be concentrating on Jesus, or we'll most definitely hit our finger. No, what I mean is that before we begin each task during the day, to always turn to Christ to help us through it. No matter how big or how small the task, before we begin, focus on Jesus. If you can look back afterward and say you did it all by yourself, you've lost focus, and a whole lot more.

Keeping our focus on Jesus is a wise thing to do, because if our focus is off, we open the door to sin. That's why God told Cain, "… and if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it” (Genesis 4:6). It also makes it easier to turn to Him in times of crisis. We don't have to think where our source of power comes from, because our relationship is strong.

Remember to always focus on the man in the middle,

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

– Hebrews 12:1-2

Keywords: Christ, Focus, Power, Strength

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