“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.” Colossians 3:1-5
Have you ever thought about a time when you were doing God’s work that He planned for you, then like Peter walking on the lake; you felt uncomfortable; out of focus. Doing God’s work is designed to make us more like Christ, to conform to His will. Sometimes, doing God's will is humanly illogical in this fallen world.
In this life, we have “focus” choices. We can focus on ourselves, we can focus on our circumstances, we can focus on other people, or we can focus on God. When you think biblically, you focus first on God. Regardless of what you want, regardless of the circumstances you're under, regardless of what others say or think, regardless of how you feel; God and God alone is working out His great plan through you. You are in focus. God is shaping us into the image of Christ, which means His Son's discipline.
I read about this in a devotion recently and it's a different way to look at God's will. What can we do to be more in focus? Spend less time analyzing God and more time obeying Him. When you follow His will and find yourself in a situation you cannot explain, don't even try. If you do, you'll likely use human wisdom, and you'll just mess things up. It’s okay to say to others watching you “I don’t understand.” “This is beyond me.” “I can’t explain why it works.” “It doesn't make sense to me…but that's okay. God knows.” Why do I help feed kids in Haiti? It’s God pleasing. I’m in focus.
Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you,
Jay