Learn how to reset your focus from the best life ever lived, and achieve your God-given destiny!
The Light of the World (Luke 11:34,36)
The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! (Mat 6:22-23)
I love connecting with people, all ages and all kinds! Recently I was in conversation with a teenage girl who told me of her struggles to remain perfect for her parents, teachers, friends and even God! She is beautiful without and within, top in her class, exemplary character and mature way beyond her years! I looked her deep in her eyes like a father loves his daughter and said: The pursuit of perfection is an illusion! Perfection in this life is fleeting!
As human beings, we seem to forget that we are restricted by our age, gender, physical and mental ability and even our personality. Furthermore, we are also limited by our economic standing, knowledge and talents as well as our surroundings family and friends! Perfection is in the eye of the beholder! Life is thus a hierarchical race of who overcomes these weaknesses and limitations best! We simply cannot be all things for all men!
Thankfully that what could not be shaken remained – Jesus and His Kingdom! (Heb 12:28-29)
One of the greatest tests of true love is self-control.
One could lavish your love on all, and experience countless fleeting ecstasies of unrestrained freedom, but never become rooted in true love. For, true LOVE requires devotion, focus, attention, and presence.
One November morning I woke up thinking of how Jesus allowed himself to be restricted, reduced, reserved, made insignificant ultimately becoming human flesh! Jesus embraced these earthly restrictions!
The restriction of a name/stigma.
He withdrew himself to a small village called Nazareth, with possibly a bad reputation, the devout Jew Nathanael exclaimed: “What good can come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:45) Jesus returned here after staying in Egypt so the word could be fulfilled that the Messiah will be called a Nazarene. (Luk 2:23) This Nazarene nametag remained for regularly he was called “Jesus of Nazareth” (Mat 26:71) Even the demons knew Him by that name (Mark 1:24) People of the time had no surnames. The place you lived or the work you did was often added to your name. A name can restrict you.
The Restriction of the place you grow up.
Lower Galilee remained outside the mainstream of Israelite life until NT times when Roman rule first brought security. Sepphoris was the chief City of the area, a little to the North of Nazareth, but never mentioned in the gospels. Why did Jesus choose not to live in this modern city of surely greater conveniences than Nazareth? Nazareth lay close enough to several main trade routes for easy contact with the outside world, while at the same time her position as a frontier-town on the south border of Zebulun overlooking the Esdraelon plain produced a certain aloofness. It was this independence of outlook in Lower Galilee that led to the scorn in which Nazareth was held by strict Jews (Jn. 1:46).[1]
Holding back your talents.
Jesus evidently did little miracles growing up; after starting His public ministry and doing miracles from town to town, he returned to His hometown. “You will surely say this proverb to Me, ‘Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we have heard done in zCapernaum, 2do also here in aYour country.’ ” [2] They rejected his interpretation of this Jewish Blessing by the prophet Isaiah (Isa 61-1-2) that the Messiah came to heal and deliver everyone and I am He! So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were efilled with 4wrath, 29 fand rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff. [3]
This means that Jesus restricted Himself for 30 years!!
Formula for success
Jesus is the ultimate example of focus!
The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
Know what you want, then write down 20 steps on how to get it! Focus and get working! This is a simple formula of success!
We present our best work when we concentrate!
Narrow is the way
(Mat 7:13-14; Luk 13:22-24) στενός stenós; fem. stenḗ, neut. stenón, adj. Straight, narrow, with reference to the gate leading to life (Mat 7:13-14; Luk 13:24; Sept. Isa 49:20). We talk of someone who lived a righteous life, as someone who followed the straight path!
Discipline is necessary for our complete development
Part of a child’s psychological development is the period, of discipline almost to the point of absolute slavery! Yet when ready, because they have matured, to outperform their peers in the long term by far!
Jesus WAITED!
Most young people do not know the meaning of the word WAIT at all!
He was in no hurry to start his ministry. (Joh 2:4).
“my time has not yet come… My hour had not come” (Joh 7:6; Joh 7:8; Joh 7:30)
Jesus would not be perturbed from His mission:
The man interrupted him to help him get his stolen inheritance (Luk 12:13) He at first was not willing to move outside the boundaries of the Jewish nation, for which he came. Women not of Jewish descend (Mat 15:21-28)
I must
We hate the things we MUST do. No one wants to be told to do something. Yet Jesus had no problem submitting and embracing the duty put on Him.
– Luk 2:49 Must be about my father’s business
– Luk 4:43 I Must preach the Kingdom
– Luk 9:22 Must suffer
– Luk 13:33 Must go today
– Luk 19:5 “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today
– Joh 9:4 We must work the works of him who sent me
Jesus lived to fulfil scripture 35x mentioned “scripture fulfilled”
His intellect was not used to be open to everything…
There is one truth, one way, (Joh 14:6)
Men told you this, but I tell you… His teaching was simple, narrow, to the point, direct to be either accepted or rejected.
He did not group men as if they were all alike.
He had no universal smile.
He had no fear of man
He praised the faith of a Roman officer and heathen women but scorned the falsehood of the Pharisees and Scribes.
He called Herod a jackal.
You cannot finish anything if you do not remain focused.
I have finished the work You gave me to do (Joh 17:4; Joh 19:28)
My food is to do the will of the father (Joh 4:32)
“Narrow your focus and you will dominate your market”
He calls us to this narrowness too:
abide in me, (John 15) take up your cross, follow me! (Mat 16:24) Simple yet life-changing commands.
He hit the nail at exactly the same place every time.
The difference between a river and a swamp. A swamp has no boundaries. Art is complete when it is framed! To take the perfect picture, you need to frame it right. Songs are written in a certain key, with only so many chords. We enjoy good roads because it has pavements. Being restricted is a good thing! Knowing and understanding your boundaries is a vital skill we all need to develop and submit to!
Sin is missing the mark! Righteousness is hitting the mark and the centre of His way of life! His way of doing life is really best for us! The more we look to Him, contemplating His life, the more He works the grace of His life in us! We become more and more Christlike!
[1] Charley, J. W. “Nazareth.” Ed. D. R. W. Wood et al. New Bible dictionary 1996 : 808. Print.
z Matt. 4:13; 11:23
2 NU Capharnaum, here and elsewhere
a Matt. 13:54; Mark 6:1
[2] The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982. Print.
e Luke 6:11
4 rage
f Luke 17:25; John 8:37; 10:31
[3] The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982. Print.
