Friday, March 11, 2016

What Dims Your Light - Defeating The Distractions Of Life

My Utmost For His Highest
 
I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision. —Acts 26:19
 
“If we lose “the heavenly vision” God has given us, we alone are responsible— not God. We lose the vision because of our own lack of spiritual growth. If we do not apply our beliefs about God to the issues of everyday life, the vision God has given us will never be fulfilled. The only way to be obedient to “the heavenly vision” is to give our utmost for His highest— our best for His glory. This can be accomplished only when we make a determination to continually remember God’s vision. But the acid test is obedience to the vision in the details of our everyday life— sixty seconds out of every minute, and sixty minutes out of every hour, not just during times of personal prayer or public meetings.” CHAMBERS
 
Have you noticed how cell phones have captured the attention of almost everyone?  Everywhere you look you can see people staring at their phones.  Texting.  Checking social media.  Apparently oblivious to their surroundings or who they are with.  Sometimes, like when they are driving, it can be hazardous, like the woman that almost collided with me as she attempted to change  lanes while texting.  Other times they are sitting at a table in a restaurant .. not talking to each other … texting .. maybe even to each other.  It’s a problem.  It’s rude.  It’s disruptive.  But, at the same time, its occurrence is on the rise.  That is how it is when we lose our focus on “the heavenly vision”.  The things of this world captivate our attention.  Our flesh entices us to focus on other things.  Like the cell phone, drawing our attention away from the true context of our lives.
 
If you are born again, you are not like the rest of the world.  You should not be living like the rest of the world.  You should not be doing what the rest of the world does. Stop staring at your cell phone!  (1 John 2:15-17)  “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”  The distractions of this world will dim the light of Christ in your life.  (Hebrews 12:1-3) “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”  You can’t run the race if you are wrapped up in the things of this world. What is it that is dimming your light? ELGIN
 
Charley Elgin

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