Inward Focus

"Then the Jews led Jesus from Caiaphas

to the palace of the Roman governor.

By now it was early morning,

and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness

the Jews did not enter the palace;

they wanted to be able to eat the Passover."

John 18:28

They were so concerned with their own holiness.  They went to great pains to study God's law, interpret it, create rules to help others follow it and supervise the adherence to it.   Their devotion to God's law was astounding.

Many looked up to these Jewish leaders as the epitome of godliness.  Most thought they were the ones to emulate.  It was assumed these men knew God Himself, so holy were they.  Unfortunately, the people of Israel who believed these things about their leaders were wrong.  Jesus said to these same men, "If you knew me, you would know my Father also." (John 8:19)

If they had paid more attention to the One who wrote the laws instead of obsessing over the law itself, God would have opened their eyes to the Messiah.  Instead, they found themselves fighting against God and being used by Him to fulfill scripture regarding Jesus. (Isaiah 6:9-10, John 12:37-41)

In the same way, I can get caught up in religious ritual, timeless tradition, and stubborn beliefs.  When I make these my god, I forsake the One who died a criminal's death on the cross so that I might get to know my Creator.  Instead of walking with Him throughout my day, I spend my time trying to figure out how to please Him, working on my character so that I can look more like Jesus, or doing things that seem like godly activities in which to take part.  When I do follow Him, however, He leads me down paths of righteousness for His namesake. (Psalm 23:3)

From the outside, I may look holy and godly, just like the Jewish leaders, but God holds an inward focus.  How do I stack up inside?

Heart

She tried so hard to worship God.  Looking around her on Sunday morning, she mimicked the behavior of those deemed acceptable and who looked like they had it all figured out.  They told her to just let go and allow God's Spirit to well up inside of her; to free her body to praise God in however He leads.  She tried, but somehow she never felt what they described.  She must be doing something wrong.  She loved God but she felt like a failure.  Why can't I just worship Him?

God is meant to be worshiped with my whole being in the way I live my life. (Romans 12:1) Since God is the lover of my heart, He doesn't care so much about what I do, what I wear, where I go or who I befriend.  His focus is not on the outward appearance, but on what is going on inside my heart.  He wants me to be so attentive to Him that I don't care how it looks on the outside.

To some it may appear I'm falling away from God because I stopped coming to Bible study to make time to hang out with drug addicts, I started bringing questionable characters with me to church on Sundays, and I got a tattoo.  

These believers may judge me, thinking that I'm turning away from God and trying to make it seem like I'm still following Christ.  In reality, God is leading me to reach out to "sinners" by frequenting places unbelievers hang out.

In Matthew 15:9, Jesus quoted the prophet Isaiah in criticizing the wrong focus of the "church people."  He said, "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.  Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men." (Isaiah 29:13)  God desires my heart to be fully devoted to Him.  This doesn't mean I must be perfect, only that wanting to know Him and follow Him would be my greatest longing.

I must be warned, however, that when I start letting God transform my mind and mold my way of thinking, I will look strange to everyone else.  Only those whose hearts are aligned with God will understand; everyone else will try to talk me out of the path I'm taking, telling me that I'm off.  As Peter said to the Sanhedrin, "We must obey God rather than men!" (Acts 5:29)

In order to avoid the trap of shallow worship, I must devote my heart to knowing and being known by Jesus.

Cleanliness

I have noticed lately my country's obsession with cleanliness.  There are constantly new products on the market to kill bacteria, fight fungus and stop the spread of germs.  We are encouraged to clean the old-fashioned way, clean with new-fangled gadgets, or clean the easy way.  Whichever method I choose, I'm getting the message that clean is good.

While they're is nothing wrong with cleaning, I find it interesting that people are so passionate about outward cleanliness but have no problem with all the filth that penetrates the hearts in their homes.  Network television is filled with shows that degrade families, promote pornography, encourage promiscuity and endorse the gay lifestyle.  The Internet is widely accessible in most homes and filled with garbage that is embraced as entertainment.  

The minds of most Americans are constantly bombarded with dirt.  As Angus Jones, actor who plays "Jake" in Two and a Half Men and recently went public with his belief that a true God-fearing person cannot be on a television show like that, said, "Please stop watching it.  Please stop filling your head with filth."

If I want to be truly concerned with my cleanliness, I must be concerned with what goes in, not just what's on the exterior. (Proverbs 4:23)  I can't just look good on the outside.  When David confessed his sin against God in taking Bathsheba, Uriah's wife, as his own, he cried out to God, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." (Psalm 51:10)  

It's not enough to look good, but a heart devoted to Jesus will be changed and grow sensitive to sin.  When this begins to happen, I'll only desire things that honor God instead of being willing to allow filth into my heart.  My motives will be pure, dropping the ulterior motive of my own comfort, pleasure and entertainment and be completely concerned with pleasing and honoring God.

In order to avoid the trap of focusing only on appearances, I must let Jesus guard my heart as the wellspring of life.  

Holiness

Some people believe it is possible to live a life free from sin.  They think God's Spirit enables me to live a holy and pure life.  Oswald Chambers says of this, "The holiness movements of today have none of the rugged reality of the New Testament about them.  There is nothing about them that needs the death of Jesus Christ.  All that is required is a pious atmosphere, prayer, and devotion. . .Yet the New Testament is about the work of God and nothing else. . . The Spirit of God does in me internally all that Jesus Christ did for me externally."

I am not called to be holy for my own purposes.  I am called to live in obedience to His Spirit who is within me so that I can glorify God.  I resemble His character when I'm dedicated to Him, not to my own sanctification.  Chambers shed some light on the difference when he said, "The New Testament example of the Christian experience is that of a personal, passionate devotion to the Person of Jesus Christ."

When I see someone suffering who has been ostracized by the medical community and other believers as "crazy," Jesus compels me to reach out and comfort.  When I am drawn to a group of cursing, drinking teens, Jesus compels me to share His love.  When my neighbors' children are out of control, Jesus compels me to offer support.

A focus on my own character development would not drive me toward these uncomfortable situations.  Only a devotion to Jesus Himself would give me the desire to do these kinds of acts as I'm more concerned with God's glory than my own reputation or status.

In order to avoid the trap of being driven by a quest for personal holiness, I must be more concerned with the glory of God. 

Religion requires an outward focus and is an empty, bottomless pit filled with traps of all kinds.  Three I must avoid as I follow Jesus are worshiping superficially, cleaning outwardly, and seeking to improve my own reputation.  Instead, I can live with the desire to please God in all things, protect my heart from the filth of this world, and seek glory for God alone.  In so doing, I will discover the joy in walking at peace with Jesus.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can keep my focus inward instead of only concerning myself with how things look on the outside.

How do I clean up the outside, but neglect to protect my heart from filth?

When am I more concerned with my own entertainment than in protecting me and my family from things that dishonor God?

The Offensiveness of the Truth

"'I have spoken openly to the world,'

Jesus replied.

'I always taught in synagogues or at the temple,

where all the Jews come together.

I said nothing in secret.

Why question me?

Ask those who heard me.

Surely they know what I said.'

. . .'If I said something wrong,'

Jesus replied,

'testify as to what is wrong.

But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?'"

John 18:21,22,23

They grilled the witness on the stand, sure that she was hiding something.  To her credit, she answered truthfully, telling everything, even if it made her look bad.  By the end of the hearing, the committee had a greater understanding of what happened, making their decision easier.  Despite the fact that the truth damaged the reputation of the witness, her credibility was intact due to her honest testimony.  

Part of living a life of integrity means telling the truth even when it's not popular or flattering.  There are times when I succumb to temptation and do the wrong thing.  Even though I am not proud of those times in my life, it is important that I not hide my indiscretions, acting as though they didn't happen.  God uses even times of sinful behavior for my good once I get back into a right relationship with Him.  My sin is covered by the blood of Jesus, but walking with Him in a close, intimate relationship means I can't have areas of deep, dark secrets in my life.  I must not be afraid to bring it out into the light.

Jesus, on the other hand, has nothing to hide.  He is perfect and without blemish.  Jesus never gave into temptation: His life as a human being was spotless.  When He taught God's ways to those who would listen, He never hid His purpose or disguised His meaning.  He was always forthright and completely transparent.

Despite His flawlessness, Jesus was treated like a criminal.  Those who God used to place Jesus on the cross believed Jesus was hiding something, that He was blaspheming the holy name of God and that He was teaching fallacy.   Jesus, however, did not behave as someone who had something to hide.  Instead, He boldly spoke the truth in public, for everyone to hear and make up their own mind.

The Truth is handled differently, depending upon whether I am living in the shadows or walking in the Light.

Delivery

When my daughter visited New York City some years ago as a part of a modelling convention, she was approached by a man who was attempting to sell watches from the inside lining of his trench coat!  Knowing that anything legitimate would not be done in such a clandestine way, she continued walking without giving the salesman an opportunity to make a sale.

Red flags should go up in my consciousness if ever I hear a message delivered as a secret or if I'm told not to tell where I heard the information.  Falsehood tends to be conveyed under cover of darkness.

In contrast, the truth tends to be spoken freely, out in the open without shame or guilt.  First century African Christian author Tertullian said, "Truth does not blush."  I can gauge whether my thoughts and spoken words are truth by whether I'd rather keep them secret, or if I'm comfortable with it being known.  Even an ugly truth is better than a flattering falsehood.  As Proverbs 26:28 says, "A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin."

Jesus delivers the Truth in the open.  His Gospel is not secret nor does it contain a hidden agenda.  Instead, it is clear, straightforward and concise: I am a sinner who does not meet God's standard of perfection.  My sin earns eternal death.  God demands justice.  His love sent Jesus to take my punishment, dying in my place and fulfilling God's just nature.  I receive the free gift of salvation offered by grace through faith in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.  I am saved from eternal damnation and given life eternal and a relationship with God.

If I ever hear anything added to the simple truth that there is no other name other than Jesus which can save me, then I can label it as false teaching. (Acts 4:12)

Despite being treated like a criminal, Jesus never hid His purpose or message.

Reaction

One of the ways a detective can tell if a defendant is lying is by the way they react to the truth.  The more violent the reaction, the more likely they are living in a lie.

In the same way, I am faced with the Truth in the form of Jesus Christ.  The more violent my reaction to Him and His teachings, the greater the chasm that exists between me and the truth.

 If I'm walking according to my flesh, living in a way that pleases me, I will be offended when Jesus reminds me to give secretly so that no one knows what I'm doing.  (Matthew 6:1-4)  I'll be upset that I can't get some kind of recognition, even if it's only a nod of approval from the usher.

But if I'm walking with Jesus, living according to His Spirit, it will seem the most natural thing in the world for me to pay my tithe or donate an offering anonymously.

Other times, I'll be convicted by the Spirit of Truth to stop judging others, instead offering compassion and grace.  If I'm close to Jesus during that time, I'll gladly accept this teaching.  But if I'm drifting away from Him, I'll choose to ignore this particular lesson and only adhere to those that feel comfortable to me.  

The way I react to Jesus depends on whether or not my heart if aligned with God.

Charges

I remember recording a false number on a sales receipt for a van we purchased from a private party in order to pay less taxes.  As my husband and I drove to the Licensing Office, we both were convicted with the same scripture, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's." (Mark 12:17)  When we arrived at the government agency, we were told we had to get an appraisal from a car dealership.  The dealer valued the vehicle at the same price we paid, putting us back on track.  When we brought the paperwork to the Licensing Office, we ended up paying a lower tax rate than what we anticipated, making our bill as much as it would have been if we'd cheated.  We learned to demonstrate our faith in God by doing business honestly and to leave the outcome up to God.

In a similar way, the truth needs no defense.  If I think it necessary to bend the truth, cheat, or lie to bring charges against someone, maybe I'm the one in the wrong.  God is a God of justice and He will not let corruption go unchecked.  It's better for me to let Him handle corruption, instead of falling into it myself in the name of justice.

The world is filled with people who had good intentions, but utilized underhanded means to achieve the desired results.  My own deceit is not justified by my offender's transgressions, no matter how evil.

Corruption reveals falsehood, no matter which end the underhanded deeds occur.  If someone is truly wrong, I can trust God to shed light on the matter, (1 Corinthians 4:5)  bringing those transgressions into the light. 

I am called to lovingly restore those who fall into sin, but I am warned to be careful, lest I am tempted in some way myself.  (Galatians 6:1-5)  It is very easy for me to think I'm capable of helping someone out of the shadows, but I must do so with the full vision of my own identity as a sinner saved by grace.   Only Jesus can change a heart that is hardened to sin.  

Trusting Jesus means staying in the light and letting Him deal with what is done in the darkness.

Jesus did not hide His teachings, showing us how the Truth is handled.  It is delivered without shame or guilt, is readily received by those whose heart is aligned with Jesus, and needs no defense.  I can rely on the Truth as a good indicator of my proximity to Jesus.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can use the Truth in a way that keeps me close to Jesus.

When am I easily offended by the things that Jesus says?

How can I better accept His teachings?

Know Him. . . and Make Him Known

"You see, we don't go around preaching about ourselves.

We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord,

and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus' sake.

For God, who said, "Let there be light in the darkness,"

has made this light shine in our hearts 

so we could know the glory of God 

that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ."

2 Corinthians 4:5-6

Mother Teresa, a woman who gave her life to the poor and unwanted in the slums of Calcutta, India is known to have said the following:

"I follow Christ: Jesus is my God, Jesus is my Spouse, Jesus is my Life, Jesus is my only Love, Jesus is my All in All, Jesus is my Everything."  All she did was for the sake of Jesus and out of her love for Him.  

If I held that same passion and all-consuming love, how would my life change?

Motives

I have always been curious as to what drives people to do the things they do, whether they be serial killers or missionaries.  One thing every person has in common is motivation.  Our motivation differs, but we each do things for a reason, whether it be good or bad, noble or low, selfless or selfish.  All action is as a result of some belief, emotion, or reaction. 

If Jesus were my only motivation for choosing which activities, work and amusement I take part in each day, what would remain from my current schedule?  Would I still be so adamant about daily exercise?  Would checking my Facebook be a priority?  How important would maintaining a clean house fall in the scheme of things?  

In the light of Jesus, would I still decide to work overtime in order to earn a little extra money, or would I spend time with my children?  If Jesus were my everything, would I stick to my schedule or would I welcome the interruption of someone stopping by to chat?   If Jesus was the only fuel that fired my engine, would I still place so much emphasis on success?

I don't have the answers, but I know where to find them.  God's Word has much to say about what drives me as a follower of Christ.  In Philippians 3:8-9a I find Paul saying that, "everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.  For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him."  (NLT)

If my love for Jesus drove me, He would be the only thing in my vision.  Jesus would be the glasses I look through, tainting the landscape with His love.  I would no longer be concerned about my safety, my comfort, my welfare or my accomplishments.  Instead, I would only be concerned with whoever He places in my path and how I can point her to Jesus.  My primary motive would be to love those around me as a tiny example of how Jesus loves me.  My attitude would be one of humility as I desire to make Jesus known.

Action driven by a love for Jesus brings glory to Him.

Mind

My brain is filled with many things; annoying jingles, mindless trivia, scheduling details, things to do, problems to solve. . . oh yes, and the occasional thought about God and His Word.

God has made Himself known to me through faith in Jesus Christ.  It is possible to grow closer to my Creator and to fill my mind with His Word.  Because of this, I have the option to worship Him in all I do.

My mind could be filled with other things besides the trivial, seemingly-important things of this world.  As Thomas R. Kelly said, "Walk and talk and work and laugh with your friends, but behind the scenes, keep up the life of simple prayer and inward worship."  

How would my life change is my mind were to be preoccupied with thoughts of Jesus, thanks to Jesus and adoration of Jesus?  As it says in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, "Always be joyful.  Never stop praying.  Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." (NLT)

If my mind were absorbed in Jesus, all other things would take their rightful place as insignificant.  

Jesus has a way of putting things in perspective; transforming my mind to His point-of-view.

Light

When God created the world, the first thing He created was light.  It shone into the darkness, illuminating what was once formless and empty.  After light was created, there was possibility. There was day.  There was hope.  

Jesus also claimed to be the Light.  He said, "I am the light of the world.  If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life." (John 18:12 NLT)  Jesus truly gives me hope because if I follow Him, I will inherit eternal life.  

Now the One who first created light and sent His Son, who is Himself Light, has placed this light within me.  The light of Jesus shines within my heart, illuminating things that should not be there, and piercing through the darkness that is all around me.  Because of this great light, I have the hope of heaven, but also the joy of knowing a bit about the glory of God.

Moses wanted to see God's glory, but God said he'd only be able to tolerate seeing the backside of his goodness for no one could look upon the face of God and live.  But we have the opportunity to experience the glory of God in the face of Jesus.  His light lives within us waiting to shine out upon all with whom we come in contact.  

As John the Baptist said, "He must become greater, I must become less." (John 3:30) John's mission was to direct attention to the coming Messiah.  My mission is similar; to point to the risen Savior, Jesus Christ my Lord.    

The light of Jesus that is within me shines out to the world around me, as long as I am not in the way.  

Mother Teresa is a great inspiration.  The secret of her amazing life is found in her motives, her mind and the Light that was within her.  The same can be with me, if I will only give Jesus His rightful place as Lord of my life.

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I will consciously make Jesus Lord.

What other things, people or activities are lord in some areas of my life?

How can Jesus be my Everything today?