What should have our attention?
Ecclesiastes 7:13Accept the way God does things, for who can straighten what he has made crooked?
John 5:19So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does.”
We should pay attention to what God is doing and the way he is working in our lives and in the world around us.
Luke 8:18“So pay attention to how you hear. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what they think they understand will be taken away from them.”
1 Corinthians 2:2I [Paul] decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified.
Hebrews 2:3-4So what makes us think we can escape if we ignore this great salvation that was first announced by the Lord Jesus himself and then delivered to us by those who heard him speak? And God confirmed the message by giving signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit whenever he chose.
We should pay attention to the message Jesus has for us. What Jesus says is reinforced by who he is—God’s Son. If Jesus is not God’s Son, he would be incapable of raising us from the dead. He would have no power to save us and grant us eternal life. If the most important or powerful person on earth wanted to talk with you, would you listen? Would you give that person your full attention? The Son of God is infinitely more important than anyone else in history!
Psalm 119:78I will concentrate on your commandments.
2 Peter 1:19Because of that experience, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place—until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star shines in your hearts.
We should pay attention to God’s Word. Through the Bible, God speaks to us and brings us life that will last forever.
Proverbs 5:1My son, pay attention to my wisdom; listen carefully to my wise counsel.
Proverbs 5:13Oh, why didn’t I listen to my teachers? Why didn’t I pay attention to my instructors?
Proverbs 16:20Those who listen to instruction will prosper; those who trust the Lord will be joyful.
Proverbs 19:27If you stop listening to instruction, my child, you will turn your back on knowledge.
Proverbs 22:17Listen to the words of the wise; apply your heart to my instruction.
We should pay attention to the instruction we receive from godly and wise counselors and teachers. If we don’t, we may be turning our backs on God himself.
Matthew 7:15Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves.
Matthew 16:11-12“Why can’t you understand that I’m not talking about bread? So again I say, ‘Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.’” Then at last they understood that he wasn’t speaking about the yeast in bread, but about the deceptive teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
2 Peter 2:1There were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them. In this way, they will bring sudden destruction on themselves.
We must be alert to the deception of false prophets and false teachers, those who twist God’s Word to make it say whatever they want. We should pay attention to their wiles and reject their teachings.
Mark 13:32-33“However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. And since you don’t know when that time will come, be on guard! Stay alert!”
Luke 21:31, 34-36“In the same way, when you see all these things taking place, you can know that the Kingdom of God is near. . . . Watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life. Don’t let that day catch you unaware, like a trap. For that day will come upon everyone living on the earth. Keep alert at all times. And pray that you might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors and stand before the Son of Man.”
1 Thessalonians 5:4-6You aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief. For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night. So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded.
We can prepare for the day of Christ’s return by paying attention to the way we live. We should live as though he were coming back today.
Matthew 26:41“Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!”
Ephesians 6:18Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
Colossians 4:2Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.
Our prayer life deserves our focused attention. That’s how we best connect to God himself.
1 Corinthians 16:13Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong.
1 Timothy 4:8Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.
1 Timothy 4:16Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you.
The growth and strengthening of our spiritual lives deserves our attention. We should exercise our bodies to keep them healthy, but it is even more important for us to build our souls so they are strong and healthy.
