Key Texts: Matthew 10: 1-25; 2 Chronicles 34-35; Luke 9: 51-53;
Additional Texts: Genesis 3; Proverbs 12: 17-23; Matthew 23: 1-10, 23-34; Luke 10: 19; Numbers 21: Revelation 12:9; Isaiah 14: 27; Revelation 20: 2; Isaiah 50:7
Sometimes, it is difficult to focus. There is an abundance of distractions in our world which all vie for our attention, despite our intentions to focus on our purpose or goals. This is true whether we are very young or more mature, whether it’s our thoughts or never-ending ‘to-do’ lists and regardless of us making efforts to minimise distractions. It is easier to rise above distractions when we are able to control them, but as I’ve learnt over the past few years, there may also be unprecedented distractions due to the enemy’s assignment against our purpose, relationship with God and calling, and if we are not careful precious time is lost in engaging with them.
Despite the challenge in maintaining focus, managing our daily routines, and most importantly, fulfilling what we are called to do, it is an investment which is worth the time and effort required to overcome it. Though it’s not an exhaustive list of how to develop discernment to maintain focus amidst distractions, I pray that this entry will give some insight into one strategy, demonstrated in the Bible and proven to honour God.
In our first key text, as Jesus commissions His disciples, His advice involves their need to be exercise keen judgement whilst maintaining humility. Their purpose would require knowing when to proceed and when to retreat, when to grasp opportunities to minister to others and when to eliminate options. They had spent time around their Saviour, absorbed His teaching and wisdom, and would be required to use this as a scaffold when required to form judgements away from His physical presence. He encouraged them to be as wise as serpents, yet as humble as doves, indicating the need for meekness balanced with godly discernment in ministering for His kingdom. Serpents are usually associated with evil and death (even in the Bible), but they are also cunning or wise enough to know when to hide to avoid detection and when to pounce. In Jesus’ analogy, the calculating nature of the serpent obviously shouldn’t be adopted to bring harm to others, but to use wisdom to discern outcomes of decisions before they are made, and ultimately the best means of building the Kingdom, even if they are coupled with opposition, setbacks and a degree of tension. If the Son of God said this, wisdom, that comes from knowing God is essential in our walk with Him.
In our second key text, Josiah, who ascended to the throne at the tender age of eight, had not spent as much time in the Word, but desired to honour the God his father had served. Within eight years of reigning, he began to seek the Lord and within another four years, having discerned God’s will, embarked on years of reforming Judah and Jerusalem, removing all traces of idol worship and restoring the temple. During his mission, through his chosen men he discovered the Law of God and was wrought when he realised the impending doom on his people as a result of his ancestors’ poor leadership and their idolatrous practices. Despite Josiah’s faulty decision which led to his end, when he discovered this, he immediately repented and used his influence to further ensure that he did everything in his power to restore order and honour God. Josiah had one overarching aim – to honour God with his life and leadership, and that, along with his knowledge of God’s will, became the filter he used to discern decisions he needed to make and oversee. Divine discernment enabled him to glorify God and restore practices such as the Passover to instill the need for reverence and worship of God in the generations he encountered in thirty-one years of leading. Wisdom guided him to be more faithful than some of his successors, who ironically, began their reign as seasoned adults. Godly wisdom is available to all, regardless of age. This need for godly discernment does not negate secular wisdom; God does enable expertise in areas where we may need advice and is able to use their wisdom to guide us. Josiah had to also seek secular wisdom in finding the best men and resources to conduct every task he deemed necessary, but ultimately based his decision making on the Word and his understanding of what God required of him. If you want to read for a degree in Business, you will need to read more than the Bible. If you are interested in investing in property, realtors are able to provide guidance about the market and specific locations. However, seeking godly wisdom above all, facilitates divine discernment when all information is examined. Josiah models this healthy balance between secular and godly wisdom.
In our third key text, Jesus Himself who embodied focus amidst potential distractions, set His face like a flint (sharp stone), demonstrating to His followers the importance of prudently fixating on divine assignments. He knew His purpose on the earth was crucial to salvation and resolved that nothing would distract Him; He was determined to maintain the sharp focus His purpose required as prophesied in Isaiah 50. Despite knowing that He would face mockery, abandonment, torture and a gruesome death, Jesus understood that the
assignment He had been given would glorify God.
As mentioned in last week’s entry on discernment, it is necessary and highly beneficial for us to be faithful to God in all areas of our lives, balanced with caring for others without being deceived, manipulated or distracted. Jesus warned His disciples to be alert – everyone would not support them despite them promoting the Good News He cane to share. In my testimony at the launch of Blots, Flaws and Revelations, I shared that God had made me aware that wherever He is leading me to would include oppositions, for which I was already in training! I was slightly daunted at the start of the journey that people, including professed believers would do anything but rejoice at a ministry intended to glorify God, but soon settled into accepting that if Jesus Himself faced resistance, so would I! (John 15: 18-25). What I now pray for is discernment, and must say it has been heightened during this journey. Everything or person that craves my attention can’t have it – I’ve lost enough time during my life fighting the wrong battles! Everything has to be filtered. I am still growing in discernment, but I’m much better having realised the importance of honouring God in my calling above all; every main decision has to align with it. Everything else is secondary.
In a similar way, I presume that as a young king, Josiah had many opportunities to be distracted: wealth, status, meetings, relationships, a country to lead…I’m sure he was very busy! However, the decisions he made through discernment based on what he already knew and kept learning about God gave him success. Likewise, the disciples ministered to others, following Jesus advice to keep moving even when they are not well received. They could have otherwise been discouraged by rejection of their message, but Jesus’ wisdom inspired them to avoid taking this personally. They clearly fulfilled the mandate as thousands of years later, we know the Gospel -their ground work perpetuates. Being the most influential in our key texts, Jesus needs no introduction – He is the ultimate embodiment of wise discernment, choosing to honour God above His earthly flesh’s wish to avoid death (Matthew 26: 36-46), giving His life for us in a hostile environment. He could have rescinded, but with His flint-faced focus, fulfilled His father’s will.
With these prime examples of the benefits of discernment, let us embark on a week or longer journey of making sound decisions based on what we know of God’s will. As seen in His word, sometimes, like Josiah, we know enough to start the journey, and learn more along the way; we need to exercise faith to start. As the temple was being restored and the high priest Hilkiah found the Law, Josiah read it and his wisdom or discernment increased. At times, all the wisdom you may have is enough to start to honour God, whether it is in a new venture or embarking on a relationship with Him. That’s a great place to start – discerning His first steps and seeking Him continuously to hear more. Jesus modelled seeking God daily in the Lord’s Prayer, encouraging us to seek our ‘daily bread’. If you lack discernment about what to do, look on the bright side – God will not always tell us blatantly what to do, but is available to teach us more daily, to help us grow in discernment that will enable us to make the right choices. We must seek Him daily to grow in discernment.
If you are confused or battling tough decisions including the walk of faith in Christ, I pray you will grow in godly discernment in the same way that the disciples and Josiah grew – by spending time in seeking the Lord. If you are struggling to pray, are unsure of whether your discernment has been accurate, or simply don’t even know what to pray about regarding the decisions you are facing, I pray you will find time to do so today, even for a minute or five. He hears.
Heartfelt Prayer:
Dear Lord,thank You for the gift of another opportunity to grow in You. Exercising godly wisdom/discernment is difficult, and I sometimes lack the discipline to acquire the wisdom gained from spending time with You (which will help me to improve in this area). Please help me to develop godly discernment of Your will and obey promptly. Help me to develop your flint-faced focus through discernment Jesus – I ask this in Your name. Amen.
