Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “Worry”
Our Bible verse for today: “Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith.” Hebrews 12:1-2 (HCSB)
Our thought for today: “The more you focus on Jesus, the less you’ll have to worry about.”
Many years ago Campus Crusade for Christ developed what went on to become the most widely used evangelistic tract of all time, “The Four Spiritual Laws”. In that little booklet they include a drawing that very effectively illustrates the difference between a life focused on Jesus, and one that isn’t.
The drawing is divided in half, left and right. On the left side, there is a throne which represents the place of honor in the person’s heart. Around the throne are a multitude of black dashes, each of which represents some person, issue, or activity which has a place in this person’s life. In this illustration on the left side of the drawing “self” is on the throne and all the black dashes are arranged around the throne in chaotic fashion, pointing up, down, sideways, and just jumbled all over the place. The scene depicts chaos.
On the right side of the drawing is another throne, it too representing the place of honor in a person’s life. But this time it is Jesus on the throne, and this time all the black dashes representing the things that fill up this person’s life, are in perfect order and are perfectly aligned, all pointing towards the throne. The difference between the two lives is clear and stark.
In his book, “What On Earth Am I here for?” Pastor Rick Warren urges his readers to be intentional about making Jesus the center of their lives. He writes, “When God is at the center, you worship. When he’s not, you worry. Worry is the warning light that God has been shoved to the sideline.”
This is essentially the same lesson the writer of Hebrews was expressing in Hebrews 12:1-2. This life is a long haul, and it is often filled to overflowing with a multitude of things competing for our time, attention, and loyalty. Keep your eyes on Jesus. Put Him on the throne of your heart and keep Him there. Then allow everything else in life to fall into perfect alignment around the throne, all of it pointing to Jesus. If you do that, you’ll have a lot less to worry about.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 