Perfect Peace

We are to set our hearts and minds, like concrete, that once it’s set it can’t be moved.

We are to focus on the things of God, on his ways, his will, and his commands and not be distracted by the things that Satan would use to distract us and take us away from where God is leading us. Think of all the things in your life that can be a distraction. Think of the times where little things have kept you from growing in Christ. We walk through life and our tendency is to look all around us and to chase after the things that catch our eye while Christ is standing before us saying “look at me, look at me, I’ll get you where you need to go, just look at me, focus on me.” I remember the first time I was in a service where Yogi whistled and said “look at me.” I about jumped out of my skin! He was trying to keep his congregation focused and away from distraction. What I didn’t realize is that, no matter how shrill and annoying the whistle can be, Yogi is actually being very Godly and Christ-like. He is demanding your attention and while Christ tends to use a still small voice, the message is the same. Eyes to the front, watch me, listen to me, follow me. We are to be singleminded.

I have been singleminded about different things at different times of my life. When I was young, I ate, drank, and slept baseball. I played it, I watched it, I read the box scores, I collected the cards, I was consumed by it. Then I discovered girls. I remember my first real crush in Jr. High. All day all I could do was think about her, I would write letters to her (and then throw them out) I had her name scribbled all over my folders. I would even write her name with my last name, I had it bad. As I’ve grown and matured somewhat, my understanding of God’s call and command has lead me to place that same kind of passion and desire and focus on Him and on His commands and the call he has for my life.

When we fix our thoughts on God, many things will happen in our lives. I want to mention two big ones this morning.

1) Desire to Obey.

When we focus on Christ, his commands and call on our life will take on a new importance and our passion and desire in life will be to serve him. Be very careful, freedom is a great temptation. You’ve all heard the stats on the number of teens who leave the church after high school, most of you would sit here and say that won’t be me. But the reality is that many teens walk into the freedom the next few years will bring, unprepared and the distractions and temptations prove to be too much and our focus wavers and then crashes. I can remember waking up that first Sunday morning of College and realizing that I didn’t have to get up and go to church if I didn’t want to. We used to call it bedside Baptist church.

You will be in new situations, with new people, and without your parents or pastors looking over your shoulder. If your thoughts are fixed on God then the desire to follow and obey will show itself in your life and keep you from many of the distractions that can destroy your walk with God. Obey by: