Find Your Focus

We live in a world that values the opinions of others very highly. Seeking to keep up with the Joneses is an age-old pursuit. But Scripture is clear: God wants our focus to be on Him.

In a world that gives us permission to be self-centered, we constantly look at ourselves and our pictures on social media, listening for the notification that says someone has “liked” us. We become our own idols, striving for recognition and affirmation. It is not wrong to desire to be loved and to belong, but Jesus meant for us to find our meaning first in Him, then in our family, our community of believers, and those we serve in our own day-to-day lives.

In the story of the Good Samaritan, Jesus tells of those who could publicly pontificate and argue the law and posture on their supposed righteousness, yet these men neglected those who really needed redemption and help, embodied by the man caught by robbers, left for dead beside the road.

When we live in true integrity, following hard after Him, our children can find the real Jesus living in our home. Not someone who wants to keep up appearances, but the real Christ who lays down His life and shepherds the sheep of His fold, the servant King who cares about the unseen people.

True personal integrity comes from following hard after Him and loving those He has called us to love and doing what He has called us to do.

His Promises

And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?

Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.

We are careful to be honorable before the Lord, but we also want everyone else to see that we are honorable.