Distractions

“My life is one big obstacle course, with me being the chief obstacle.” (Jack Parr)

Before we dive into prayer next week, let’s spend one more Putting Green “clearing the way,” so that we can actually pray with an uncluttered heart and head. (Which I will admit is hard for me to do)  The Holy Spirit prompted the apostle Paul to state emphatically, 

“I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection (i.e. His Holy Spirit power) …” Phil. 3:10 

I, too, am compelled to know Jesus more deeply, primarily because he is worthy of such a pursuit – do not miss that. He is absolutely worthy. And, he promised this is the path to eternal life … now. Please do not miss that either – now! 

“Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” John 17:3 

How am I going to start living Heaven-on-earth now? Is this possible? Jesus said it is. So how am I going to achieve this? I am going to want to “throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles,” and I am going to “run with perseverance the race marked out for me. I am going to fix my eyes on Jesus …”  Hebrews 12:1-2 

I want to fix my eyes on Jesus so he can then fix my eyes on what is most important. How do I fix my eyes on Jesus? I practice and learn how to stay in a conversational walk with him, talking with him about what we are doing together that day. (Dallas Willard) 

But how do I “throw off everything that hinders?” And what might those be? The short and simple answer: Distractions. Distractions and our ridiculous busyness. 

Recall Satan’s “3 D’s”: Destroy – Distract – Discourage (Search Ministries) 

If he can keep you out of a saving relationship with Jesus, then he has destroyed your soul, which is his primary goal. He will do this by distracting you and discouraging you with busyness. But if he loses that battle because you have surrendered your life to Jesus, then he will seek to destroy the A+ Life to the full Jesus wants for you.  

Again, he will do this by distracting you and discouraging you. 

Our culture is full of distractions – some okay, but mostly C-, and some bad. Most of your distractions are likely good or C-, but not certainly not the best. Not even close. It is those good-but-nowhere-close-to-the-best distractions that will ultimately diminish his life to the full Jesus said he came for you to experience through him. 

Jesus sums it up in his parable of the four soils like this: 

The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth – choke the word, making it unfruitful … but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. Matthew 13:22 & Luke  8:14 

“They are unfruitful and they do not mature.” Does this hit a little too close to home? 

Take a few minutes and write down those not-the-best distractions that are clogging up your life, and slowing you down in your relay race. Then, ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life, by ruthlessly eliminating all the not-the-best busy activities that are detouring you from running your race with your eyes fixed on Jesus. 

“Good, better, best. Never let it rest until our good is better and our better is best.” (Jerome) 

Today, will you purpose to eliminate just one?