Resist Distraction
For the past 10 years, AT&T has been running a national campaign called “It Can Wait.” This crusade is about motivating people to avoid the dangers of driving while distracted. They have invited people to take a pledge to never drive distracted. Over 40 million have taken the following pledge.
I pledge to always drive distraction free. No exceptions. I pledge to never allow my phone to endanger myself or others behind the wheel. I pledge to be an advocate for the cause. To lead by example and spread the message. I pledge because I believe driving distraction free can save lives and make the world a better place.
What can truly save lives and makes the world a better place is living a spiritually undistracted life. As we all know from experience, distraction is a constant temptation and one that can be costly. It shows up in ways like being inattentive, unfocused, double-minded, unprioritized, and unplanned.
God speaks about being undistracted and uses some strong language to remind you and me to stay focused on what matters. Here are a few:
Luke 10:40a, 41-42a — “But Martha was distracted with all her preparations…But the Lord answered and said to her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.’”
Heb 12:2 — “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Phil 3:13 — “Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead.”
Joshua 1:7 — “Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go.”
Colossians 3:2 — “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.”
How can we cultivate an undistracted life?
Determine what matters most. (Matt 22:37-39 — “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”)
Prioritize what matters most. (Col. 1:18 — "So that He Himself will come to have first place in everything”; Matt 6:33 — “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.”)
Feed what matters most. (Phil 4:8 — “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.”)
Do what matters most. (1 Cor. 10:31 — "Do all to the glory of God.”)
Listen to this great song that reminds us why God is so worthy of an undistracted life. Jesus, Only Jesus (or the acappella version).
Pastor Jeff