Words Of Encouragment To Start The Day ( Wednesday 10/15/08)

Focused On The Business At Hand...

Colossians 3:1-3 (Amplified Bible)Colossians 3 1IF THEN you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead], aim at and seek the [rich, eternal treasures] that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth. 3For [as far as this world is concerned] you have died, and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God.


In the mornings while it is still dark outside I get up and take our two dogs out. One dog is 13 years old and usually moves slower and takes his time, I call him the big little dog. The second dog has just turned a year old and is usually full of energy and vitality, I call her the little little dog. But at that hour of the morning the roles seem to be different. The younger little dog moves slower and is methodical in her search, but she is all about the business, where as the big little dog wants to run up on the other dog and sniff her and disturb her, from the chore at hand. Most mornings this results in some tension and growling and the little, young dog snapping at the older dog. Even though every morning is the same the older dog still continues to distract her and she will have none of it, not even for one morning.
So often we become unfocused, undisciplined and far removed from the business at hand. We seek the peace of the present day and this earth and we miss the fact that earth is not our home. Our business at hand becomes the pleasures of this world and the compromising to ensure that we are comfortable emotionally, physically, and mentally, forgetting that while we do this we are causing our spirit stress and opening ourselves up to distractions and the bait of Satan. Why were we created? We were created to worship God and to serve Him. So why then, is this for so many of us not the focus and the business at hand? Why are we allowing people, situations, circumstances and things to distract us from doing what God wants from us. As we look around us a see things and we hear people saying what we do and do not deserve, we negate to consult the Father and follow after the voice of the world. We give into to having our attention pulled from God to self and or the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life. It is a me, my, mine and I party going on and god is not invited.
What is going to put us back to the business at hand? What would make us refocus our attention and our will back to God? Will it take an experience like Job, will it take a Damascus Road experience like Paul. For all of us it takes a crucifixion like Jesus. We must die to the flesh and live to the Spirit of God. We must prioritize the will of God over our own ( all with pray and supplication), and submit ourselves to the will of God, not just for a morning, but everyday, all day!