John 1:6-13 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
I wrote a note to myself on Wednesday to call someone as soon as I got done with a conversation. The note was next to the computer on a neon pink Post-It. It wasn’t for several more hours that I remembered to make the call. Distractions. How easily and quickly our minds wander to mundane things when the immediate are screaming our attention.
We remember that the purpose of John writing his gospel was “that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” Yet we also learned that the world is in darkness and the light shines in the darkness. But the distractions of other things keep us from seeing the light of Christ and finding life in Him. Our own sin is a distraction as we seek out other things other than Christ to be our ultimate happiness. We also seek out our own righteousness which is a distraction from Jesus. In an attempt to be right before God we follow people who woo us, experiences which seem dynamic to us, and movements that offer promises of spiritual life. But in all of these distractions we often fail to follow the Jesus that is so obvious.
Has your lifestyle become your focus rather than Christ’s life-blood? Have your wants and desires overcome your affection for Him? Are you seeking extraordinary things when Jesus is what you need? Are you hoping for something extra when Jesus has given all?
