As I was reading John 5:1-15 this morning, the word ‘focus’
kept coming to mind. Out of curiosity I went back to look at what I had written
in my blog on a previous time through the book of John. Sure enough, I had
written about focus. But interestingly enough my ‘focus’ was in a different
place. The man was sitting by the pool called Bethesda where healings regularly
took place and didn’t recognize that Jesus was the one who could heal. He
wanted Jesus to be the one to push him into the water so he could be healed.
(Read more at https://wonderingthrutheword.blogspot.com/2009/08/focus_26.html.) This morning I focused on the Jewish leaders and where they were focused.
Amazingly, when a man who had been an invalid for 38 years
walked by them carrying his mat, they didn’t even seem to notice that he was
walking – an invalid for 38 years was walking! They were focused on their law
about how much a person could carry on a Sabbath and how far he could go. And
this man was violating their law. How dare he carry a mat on the Sabbath?
So I am pondering this and wondering how anyone could be so
focused on one thing that they totally miss what is important in a situation.
What are the ‘laws’ in our churches that keep us so focused we cannot see the
miraculous workings of God in the lives of our fellow human beings all around
us? Is it possible we are missing the amazing miracles of God because we are
focused on our own projects or agendas?
Are we annoyed with the child in the Sunday School class who
keeps disrupting the flow of the lesson with questions because our goal is to
teach the lesson rather than bring children to Jesus? Are we annoyed with the
neighbor who keeps coming over to talk when we are trying to get the lawn mowed
because we are more focused on our yard work than on building relationship that
will lead someone to Jesus? Are we slow to spend time with coworkers who are
lower in the system because we are more focused on climbing the career ladder
than on building relationships that will lead others to Jesus?
Lord, help me today to be in touch with your heart. Help me
to not miss the miracles you are doing all around me because I am too focused
on my agenda. I want to be available to participate in your agenda for the day –
leading people into your kingdom. Open my eyes to focus where you want me to
focus. Thank you. In Jesus precious and holy name, Amen.
