Our Focus

I have found that when we start walking correctly, the way does not become easier, it becomes more difficult. Our focus can turn to the difficulties and temptations or we can change our focus to God. In this world it is so easy to look at all the negativity instead of looking to God. The struggles are not to turn us away from our focus, but to root us in them, to separate the wheat from the chaff. Matthew 3:12 "His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire." I know where I want to be and that is not with the chaff.

For the longest time, I thought the temptation was the sin. In a recent sermon I listened to the Pastor told a story about the men that use to blindfold themselves to avoid temptation. They would walk out in the streets to avoid seeing things. I would guess that there were some accidents with that one, but the point is the temptation is not the sin, because who tempted Jesus? The devil did, but Jesus walked a pure life, so the temptation can not be the sin, it is the act of excepting the temptation that is the sin. For those people that have a struggle and think the temptation is the sin. Matthew 4:1-11 it talks about how Jesus was tested, when we are tempted, we are being tested.

What are you going to do? Are you going to give into the temptation, or are you going to fight it and turn away from it. Stand up, separate, explain that you are being tempted and know what will happen, it is the point of admitting that to each other that helps you both walk in freedom from that temptation, for that time. I am sorry to tell you, that the temptations do not go away, but become bolder and bolder, don't be afraid to discuss this with the one you love, because know what being educated may actually help keep you from putting yourself in those positions.

What is your goal? Is it to stay pure or honor God? It should be to honor God and by honoring God you will stay pure. It is easy to look at things the wrong way, set up boundaries you want to reach the boundary and soon you have pushed it. If we aim to stay pure, we have set up a boundary. But if we aim to honor God, what is the boundary? There is no boundary, there is no limit, because with God all things are possible. Matthew 19:26 "Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

In and of ourselves we can not do it, but when we keep our focus on God all things are possible. Doesn't mean hard times will not come, but it means that in those hard times there is a way to get out of them, because God has gone before us. He has provided a way for us to escape. Take the way and walk in it. Avoid the falling to temptation by turning from it.

My girlfriend says it is a heart issue, she is absolutely correct. Allow Jesus to purify your heart and in doing so He will give you the way to avoid the sins of the flesh. It will not be easy, but who ever said it would be. Allowing Him we become rooted in Him, not in ourselves. And most of all the more we seek Him, the love grows in our relationship. Allow God and anything is possible.