You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. (Isaiah 26:3)
There is an old saying, “What consumes your mind controls your life.” So, let me ask you, “What has been consuming your mind and controlling your life lately?” Has it been Jesus or something smaller than Him? Read on and be encouraged today.
In the history of the Christian church, there are countless stories of martyrs who died singing hymns and spiritual songs to the Lord. How was that possible? Their focus fostered their faithfulness. Their minds were totally focused on Jesus and their hearts were beating solely for Him. And let me remind you, their deaths were not easy deaths. Some were brought into the arena as a spectacle of sport for the lions to tear them from limb to limb as the audience cheered. Others were impaled on stakes, covered in pitch, and lit on fire. Still others were nailed to crosses that lined the roads in Rome, dying by inches, as a reminder to all who walked by what would happen to those who claimed Jesus as Lord.
Now I don’t think any of us will be thrown to the lions, or impaled on stakes, or nailed to crosses. But we are all troubled by so many things in this life that cause us to be both fearful and faithless. We have a tendency to focus on our problems rather than our possibilities. We get consumed by our obstacles rather than our opportunities. And what consumes our minds controls our lives. The key to rising above the challenges of daily living is to live each day in the shadow of the cross. This is where we are reminded of what God in Christ has done for us. This is the place where sin, Satan, and death were conquered on our behalf by the torturous death of our Lord Jesus.
With the cross in view, we will not be distracted by the cares of this world. We will be reminded, just like the martyrs were, that greater is the power within us than any power that comes up against us. Remember, focusing on the cross of Christ keeps us faithful to the Christ of the cross. Let this truth comfort and encourage you today to live the life God has called you to live for His glory and the good of others knowing that focus fosters faithfulness.
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
