Fixing Our Focus

"Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples. And he said to them, When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.... If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" - Luke 10:2-4,13

I was reading Luke 10 this morning. We are surely all familiar with the Lord's prayer. That prayer can almost become a "mantra", a statement or slogan repeated frequently, or incantation where the meaning is lost if we are not careful. Like we are speaking magic words - somehow irresistible to God. But then I read verse 13. What are we actually praying for. For God to give us what we need physically, financially or relationally? It was like a light that went on - "how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him". Jesus was not sent so that we might get more of what the world has to offer, but more of what God wants to give us.

The Holy Spirit is our spiritual enabler. God gave the people of Israel manna each day as they wandered the desert. Just enough for the day. If anything was left it spoiled at the days end. Jesus was telling the disciples to focus on God's spiritual provision and not their bellies.  I recall a song by Janice Joplin. One verse says "Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz? My friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends. Worked hard all my lifetime, no help from my friends. So, oh, Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz? Oh Lord, won't you buy me a color TV? Dialing For Dollars is trying to find me. I wait for delivery each day until three."

We, like the disciples, must fix our focus. As a child of God we are not given a spiritual debit card that allows us to draw on the treasures in heaven to satisfy our earthly desires. Rather, to have access to the fruit of the Spirit - the result of living a life focused on God and not us. 

"the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." - Galatians 5:22-24

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone