Our modern media system is very adept at controlling what we focus on. We are kept in fear and worry. We move from one crisis to another. We focus on our collective problems: disasters, shootings, storms. Wars or rumors of wars. The collapsing US$ system. Media is very careful to keep our focus on the fearful problems confronting us.
It’s amazing to me how one week we can be consumed with one terrible thing. But then that drops of the cliff and we never hear about it again. Take for instance the Las Vegas shooting. The Butler, PA attempted assassination of President Trump. The War in Ukraine, the on-going war in Gaza. Top story — then in 2 weeks no mention at all? THEY are controlling what we focus on. This past week it’s been the Charlie Kirk assassination. These are things we have no real control over, except to pray. I’m not minimizing the power of praying God’s will.
It’s like we are being led around with a ring in our nose to focus on one tragedy or looming danger after another. And we can do very little to fix any of these problems. Am I alone in this feeling or not? Let me know in the comments.
What I have come to believe is that we need to not even really pay much attention to the “news cycle” and all the problems in the world. Jesus once said, “the poor you will always have.” The “world-system” is constantly in turmoil. Sometimes far worse than others. It will always be like it. We can beat our head against the wall trying to influence that world-system — through politics, through protests, through elections. But we don’t even make a dent.
Oh, yes, President Trump is making a dent — but will it bring long-term, real positive change for the future. Did his first administration really change anything? His second administration started off with a bang — but the follow-through has been less than what we hoped for — if you are a MAGA head. If not it’s all a disaster already.
Was Jesus controlled by what was going on around him? Or did Jesus focus His ministry on a few specific goals and stay laser focused on those goals? To ask that is to answer it. Here’s what Jesus did in three short years:
He trained a small band of disciples to carry on His work after He flew back to heaven. He sent them out to Go, disciple all nations.
He went about doing good: healing the sick, demon-possessed and preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God.
He directly challenged the traditions of the Jewish establishment: the Pharisees and priests. They plotted to kill Him and eventually succeeded.
He laid down His life as a ransom for all. He gave us a perfect example to follow and perfect instructions to follow. “Teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you, and I will be with you”
We need to do our very best to follow Him: His example and His commandments.
“Seek first the Kingdom of God and HIS righteousness.” Matthew 6:33
Pray: “Our Father in heaven, May your Name be Honored. May Your Kingdom come more fully. May Your Will be done on earth as in heaven.”
We need to focus on advancing the Kingdom of God on earth.
What is the Kingdom of God? How do we live as citizens of the kingdom?
What does the Kingdom of God on earth look like?
How do we advance the Kingdom of God on earth where we live?
The Kingdom of Christ is a full-blown counter-culture to the world-system we find ourselves consumed by.
The Kingdom of Christ is local and decentralized. We have a heavenly King and we march to His orders, not those of the “world-system.” We are told: “Love not the world(system) neither the things that are in the world. The world(system) is passing away, but whoever does the will of God has eternal life.” (1 John 2:15-17)
Jesus was focused even at the age of 12: He told his distraught parents: Didn’t you know I must be about My Father’s business?”
Here’s my point: Today, we need to almost disconnect as much as we can from this world-system we find ourselves in every day. We need to focus on the commandments of Christ and do them.
“Whoever hears these sayings of Mine and DOES them, will be like a wise man that built his house (life) upon the Rock! The winds and rains may come and beat against that house, but it will withstand the storm because it is built on a Rock!”
We need to be about our Father’s Business. Seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness .. and all your needs will be supplied.
What do you think?
So true Alan...we need to BE about it.