Our Focus is Christ!

Our Focus Is Christ 

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. 

Philippians 4:8-9 

OUR WORLD IS FULL OF DISTRACTIONS. What is worse is that

some of the distractions masquerade as being important. Before we know it, we can be caught up in a web of negative images and thoughts that rob us of our happiness and steal our peace. 

Yet Paul says we who are of the faith of Jesus Christ are different, and our minds are focused on Christ and the things that solidly enrich our lives and the lives of others. He says then that we should imitate in the Spirit what he has done in the Spirit both by example and observation. If we do that, then the God of peace is with us.
We need to work together to keep our minds focused rightly on what brings us to peace; our minds must be set on the good. It is wonderful to be part of a fellowship where we speak kindly to one another and encourage the good. Be encouraged, for your kindnesses are known. 

Paul made it clear what our minds should be focused on. We are to focus on the good, those things which reflect the incarnate God in the sphere of the incarnate. The true (real), the honest, the just, the pure, the bringing forth love, the inoffensive, the virtuous, the praiseworthy; these are to occupy our minds. These are not the things that fallen human beings dwell on; in fact, in our fallenness it takes only a single negative, disturbing or mindlessly entertaining thing to distract us and soon we lose our entire train of thought.

Yes, there is the problem. The world and its distrac- tions have stolen our peace. As long as we remain fixed upon our circumstance rather than our God, we shan’t have our peace back. If we regain our focus on our God our peace is restored. This is an important part of our mission as a church in this world, to bring peace, not as the world but the peace of God.

God’s peace. 
Pastor Jay Weidner Laurium, Michigan