Primary Focus

“If God is not our primary focus, then everything else will soon get out of focus.” Selwyn Hughes

For a photographer, the words ‘out of focus’ induce anxiety. In the dark rooms of a now distant past, one was never quite sure that the image was clear and well lit until the process was complete and then, of course, it was too late. The parade and the game were over, the wedding cake cut, the sunlight gone. There was no do-over.

 

Thirsty Baby - The water droplets arrived just in 
time to keep the rosebud from dropping 
in the drought.

The digital world gives us a ‘bit’ more room for error. Yet, when my camera malfunctioned, focusing three feet behind the members of my family gathered at dusk from a 10,000-mile diameter in the Christmas cold, that error was significant. In spite of how it looked through the lens, the focus was significantly off and the light was fading fast. Fortunately, my wonderful husband was at hand with his expertise and equipment. 

The assumption, that what I was looking at was a proper representation, was my error. 

Our relationship with God is similar. We may think we are seeing Him clearly, through our preferred mode of worship, our understanding of His written word, the songs written in His honor. But when the day dawns and we meet Him face to face, will we realize it’s all been out of focus?

     

The way we affirm ourselves in our faith may seem quite ‘godly,’ but the light may reveal that we have focused on a blurred image. We may be reading and listening or singing along, thinking it’s as good as it gets and so are we… But if we haven’t allowed Him to reveal Himself to us through these things, our central processor is seriously flawed. Our own thoughts, preferences, and understanding have led us to believe something quite different than the truth. 

We never grow past the point of our need for God to reveal Himself. He designed it to be that way.

If you frequently find yourself saying, ‘maybe God wants…’ or ‘at my church, we…’ it’s time to check your focus. Are you willing to be adjusted to see things from His omniscient perspective? 

The Master alone can adjust the lens of your life so that you see with absolute clarity what before was a shadowy, blurred image. Just ask.

Luke 11:33-36 “34 Your eye is ·a light [L the lamp] for the body. When your eyes are ·good [healthy; clear], your whole body will be full of light. But when your eyes are ·evil [unhealthy; bad], your whole body will be full of darkness. 35 So be careful ·not to let the light in you become [or that the light in you is not actually] darkness. 36 If your whole body is full of light, and none of it is dark, then you will ·shine bright [be radiant; be filled with light], as when a lamp shines [brightly; L with its rays] on you.” Expanded Bible.

Mark 8:25 “Then he laid his hands again upon his eyes, and he saw distinctly, and was restored and saw all things clearly.” Darby Bible.

See also: Psalm 27:13, Matthew 5:8, Matthew 7:34-35, 1 Corinthians 13:12, Hebrews 11:3, Revelation 3:14-22

Excerpt from:

While it is Called Today - a 30-day photo devotional for living well 

by Dee Marvin Emeigh

(c) 2014 Dee Marvin Emeigh

all rights reserved

www.livwellseedco.com