Your Focus Matters

 As Christians, there are thousands of things that grab our attention on any given day. Using our five senses, we are constantly influenced by things external to us. In this passage today, Jesus talks about the key entry point where things external to us get inside our spirit. Therefore, we always want to be aware of what we focus on because it has the ability to transform our entire being. This is complimentary to my other blog entry about thinking about good things. So here we go.

Luke 11:33-36 NIV

[33]  “No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. [34] Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy, your body also is full of darkness. [35] See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. [36] Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you.” 

If you focus on good things which in this context is "light," then your whole being will reflect that and shine it out into your world. Conversely, when you focus on bad things or "darkness," then you will transform your whole being into something dark, evil, or bad. That darkness will be seen by everyone you encounter. You will emit darkness into the world around you, and we don't want that!

What you focus on with your eyes is who you will become. That's why Paul emphasized in Phillipians to focus on good things:

Philippians 4:8 NIV

[8] Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 

That's why King Solomon admonished us to guard our heart.

Proverbs 4:23 NIV

[23] Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

It's also why King David said:

Psalms 119:37 NIV

[37] Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.

What you focus on all the time is who you will become. 

So, having said that, we should monitor what we focus on because we represent Jesus.

2 Corinthians 5:20a NIV

[20] We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us...

We belong to Jesus now.

Romans 14:8 NIV

[8] If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 

As Christians, God uses us to draw people to Himself so that they will believe and be saved. He can't use us if we are full of darkness or bad things. Therefore, what we focus on is so important.

Let's pursue the good things of life and be everything God needs the Church to be so that He can save others through us.

Please share this with others.

Love you all,

Jeffrey Post