Re-focused

     So often it is easy for me to get caught up in my good works.  I cook, clean, attend church meetings, worship God, pray to Him, contend for the faith, share godly wisdom, etc.  Aren't I a good Christian?

     Uh, no.  You see, what I forgot to mention is the fact that Jesus Christ made me a Christian.  It is He who cleansed me with His righteous blood.  It is He who interceded and intercedes for me.  He gave me His righteousness.  I simply should respond rightly for all His grace.

     I have noticed that I will get my vision skewed when I look to myself or others.  Whether it be my understanding of Scripture or someone else's understanding; whether I am focused on living right; whatever it is that takes my vision off of Christ and His grace to see me through each day, I become self-righteous, discouraged, envious, depressed, angry, and more.

     I am thankful that today my God reminded me of my humble estate.  I am glad that Christ reminded me of His shed blood for me.  I am glad that God pricked my heart to not get caught up in man's understanding, but to lean upon His knowledge.  I am so thankful that my relationship never changes upon performance.

     How often I allow myself to be blinded.  I get so involved in myself or others, that I do not get close to Christ.  I am more apt to study anything or anyone else, rather than my Saviour who died for me.  Rather than study to understand more of the salvation He gave me, and responding in true thanksgiving and true worship, I study cleaning tips to look holier.

     Cleaning tips, cooking recipes, holy living books--all are good things.  However, when I misplace my focus and allow those things to be my focus, rather than God, then I get into trouble.  I become Martha, when I should be Mary.  I become a Pharisee rather than Christ-like.

     I cannot thank God enough for always working on my mind, my heart, my soul, my very being.  He works on me in such ways so that I will properly respond to His perfect will.  He is never content to allow me to stay wallowing in sin.  He wants my focus, my desire, to be Him, an by His grace it will be.  I know that when my heart and mind strays again, He, again, will bring me back into focus.

Ephesians 1

   ¹Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

   ²Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

   ³Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

   ⁴According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

   ⁵Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

   ⁶To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

   ⁷In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

   ⁸Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;

   ⁹Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

   ¹⁰That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

   ¹¹In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

   ¹²That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

   ¹³In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

   ¹⁴Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

   ¹⁵Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,

   ¹⁶Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

   ¹⁷That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

   ¹⁸The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

   ¹⁹And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

   ²⁰Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

   ²¹Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

   ²²And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

   ²³Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.