Thursday, August 17, 2023

Focused

When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.  John 19:26-27

This is a hard scene to look at.  A mother, standing by her son as He suffers and pays the price for crimes He did not commit.  Knowing He will be gone in just a few short hours and being able to do nothing about it.  Even though Jesus was grown, it doesn’t make it any easier for a mom to watch as her child dies.

In this moment, Jesus does something that on the surface seems responsible and thoughtful, but can you imagine going through what He was facing and being concerned with what happened to the people around Him.  So much that as He was hanging on the cross, after being beaten within an inch of His life, He still had others on His mind.  As He navigated through the crowd to the top of the hill carrying the cross, His focus was not on what He was going through but rather on who would benefit.  As the oldest son of His earthly family, He delegated His role of making sure His mother would be cared for after He was gone.  He called out that person to take over His duty to His mother and that was the apostle John.  From that moment on, John made sure Mary was loved and honored just as if her son were there doing it.  John became her son and made sure that she lacked nothing all the rest of her days.

I think about the things we face from day to day.  There are always distractions, delays and detours, but are we able to maintain the focus of why we are here in this world?  Do we recognize the mission that we have been called to as the most important part of each day?  Is the heavenly assignment we have been given the priority of obligations and responsibilities we have been given?  Or do we run around letting the external circumstances direct our steps, never even realizing that there is a plan for us to follow.

Today I want to encourage you to get your purpose back in your sights.  If you have lost your view and are following after a different way now, turn back today to the plan that you have been given.  Ask the Holy Spirit to lead you back to the place where His agenda was at the top of your life list.  Get a new perspective today on the purpose you were given breath in this world and when the storms of life are blowing, keep your eyes fixed on the mission you were given.  Don’t let even the slightest breeze blow you off course.  Focus on your Father above and get His strength and power to accomplish every detail He has put on your path.

Today’s scripture reading: John 19:25-30

25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 

26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” 

27 Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.

28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” 

29 Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. 

30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.