Are you distracted?

Are you distracted?

‘AWord from the Pastor’ By Clayton Adams

“Where is Anna? I thought she rode with you?” I said to my wife one Sunday afternoon to which she replied, “I thought she was with you?” Turns out, we left our young daughter at church, each thinking she was with the other. I know we are not the only ones who have left a child behind.

“…as they were returning, after spending the full number of days, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. But His parents were unaware of it, but supposed Him to be in the caravan and went a day's journey; and they began looking for Him among their relatives and acquaintances.” (Luke 2:43-44) Turns out Joseph and Mary left their Son behind and so caught up in traveling, being with friends and their stay in Jerusalem. All of this is very understandable as all parents get distracted and lose sight of what is really important.

What distracts you? Maybe a better question to ask is, what has your attention? Work, acquiring or protecting wealth, fun and recreation, a new smart phone, the latest technology, an old or new relationship? Someone or something has your attention. Whatever has your attention may be distracting you from what is really important.

Jesus warned His followers about people and things that would distract us from focusing and following Him. “See to it that no one misleads you.” “See that you are not frightened.” “…the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.” — (Matthew 24:4, 6 & 13) Jesus puts the responsibility on His followers to not be misled, to not be frightened and to “endure to the end.” Why then, do we get so easily misled, frightened or desire and contrive a way out of the pressure cooker of life?

The simple reason is we want the easy way out. Could it be that we do not enjoy the process of becoming stronger or could it simply be someone is whispering something in our ear that just makes us feel good? We mislead ourselves because often we allow our decisions to be led by emotions and feelings.

Loving someone is a choice. Hating someone is a choice. Forgiving someone is a choice — the one who offended you or hurt your feelings does not have to ask for forgiveness for you to forgive him or her. It is your choice to forgive even before they ask or even if they never ask. Jesus sets this expectation while He was on the Cross. (Luke 23:33-34) If one chooses not to forgive there are always lingering consequences.

When we have been misled and frightened our endurance suffers. To guard yourself from being misled, frightened and to grow your endurance; ask Jesus to forgive you, He always does. Get into a good Bible preaching and teaching church — put style and denomination aside, focus on Christ, allow others to encourage you to pursue Christ and if need be change friends, change your routine, get an accountability partner who you allow to ask the hard questions that will help you stay focused, unafraid and build your endurance.

Distractions are serious and will often have eternal consequences. Are you being misled? Could you be frightened? How well are you enduring? Will you endure to the end? What is distracting you from pursuing God with your whole heart?

As I was getting into the car to go get our daughter we accidently left at church, someone called saying they would bring her home. It takes a church to raise a family not a community.

Clayton Adams is pastor at Earle First Assembly of God. You can e- mail him at cpalaa@ yahoo. com, or find Earle First Assembly on Facebook.