Keeping the Proper Focus

Several Christmases ago, Karen and I took some skiing lessons at a ski school at Stephens Pass in Washington. At one point the instructor told Karen to go around me as a practice in making a left hand turn. He made the point to say, “Focus on the open patch of snow just downhill from your husband and aim for it. No matter what you do, do not look at your husband because what you focus on is what you’re going to head for." True to his word, Karen locked her eyes on me (boy, what a look of fear!) and flat ran me over!

Recently I read an article that reinforces this principle. Missionary pilot Bernie May writes, "One of the most difficult lessons to teach new pilots about landing on short, hazardous airstrips is to keep their eyes on the good part of the strip rather than on the hazard. The natural tendency is to concentrate on the obstacle, the danger, the thing he is trying to avoid. But experience teaches us that a pilot who keeps his eye on the hazard will sooner or later hit it dead center."

The spiritual principle in all of this is that instead of concentrating on the sins we want to avoid, we are told to focus on the positive actions Christ desires for us. Paul told the Christians at Colosse: "Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth" (Colossians 3:2). We are to discard old ways of thinking and acting (vv.5-9) and "put on" new ways of living (vv.10-17).

Bernie May sums it up by saying that experienced pilots focus their attention solidly on the track they want the plane to follow, keeping the hazards in their peripheral vision only.

All to often, we try our best to avoid sins in our life that frequently trip us, but yet we seem to be drawn right back to them. A better point of focus is to simply concentrate on Christ and His will for our lives. When we keep Christ and His interests as the focus, the lure of the old life will remain in the corner of our eye, but our aim will most often land us squarely in the center of God's will.

Things You May Be Interested In .....

FOR CHURCH HEALTH: Transformational Church website launched; check into how this process can help give hope to you, your ministry, your church, and your community - http://www.transformationalchurch.com/

FOR DISCIPLESHIP TRAINING: Georgia DisciplEquip Conference, Pine Forest Baptist Church, Macon, September 24 - 25 - www.gabaptist.org

FOR DISCIPLESHIP TRAINING: Max Lucado's book, Outlive Your Life, has a small group study and/or church wide event - http://www.lifeway.com/product/005189411/?CID=RDR-outlive

FOR MARRIAGE ENRICHMENT: Fireproof Your Marriage conference at FBC/Woodstock, September 10-11 - http://www.lifeway.com/event/355/

FOR MARRIAGE ENRICHMENT: Ridgecrest Festivals of Marriage, October 15 - 17 & October 22-24 - http://www.lifeway.com/event/?id=166&cid=RDR-FOM

FOR CHURCH ADMINISTRATION: Digital Church: Web based church systems software - http://www.lifeway.com/menu/?id=201392

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: What is your strategy for developing your students? Compare it with LifeWay's plan - http://www.lifeway.com/studentstrategy/

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: Connect with Baptist Collegiate Ministry - http://www.bcmlife.net/

FOR MEN'S MINISTRY: Joe Gibb's Game Plan for Life small group study - http://www.lifeway.com/gameplan

FOR WOMEN'S MINISTRY: Beth Moore's Leadership Forum, Ridgecrest, N.C., November 9-11 - http://www.lifeway.com/event/27/?cid=women-enewsletter-Forum-080110-feature

FOR CHILDREN'S MINISTRY: Discipleship options for kids - http://www.lifeway.com/article/155213/