Maintaining Focus

Monday, December 1, 2014                                                                  Isaiah 1:10-20

Brandon Priddy

Our world is full of distractions all too often worship becomes just one more thing competing for our time and attention. It is a sad irony that during the Christmas season, at a time when we should be sharpening our focus on the coming of God’s greatest gift, we are instead worrying about the gifts we ourselves will be giving, holiday decorations, and what time that Christmas party starts - and what were we supposed to bring again? 

When we allow the clutter of the world to overcome us, the offerings and sacred traditions of our worship ostensibly devoted to Him become hollow and devoid of meaning. Because they’re not for Him. “I have more than enough of burnt offerings, of rams and the fat of fattened animals.” (Isaiah 1:11) Those offerings that we bring are not for the Lord, rather they are for US. When we fail to devote our entire selves and come before the Lord with a spirit of true thankfulness and when we fail to live our lives in a way that reflects our deep gratitude for the gift of His son sent to live among us, we strip our offerings, our hymns, our recitations and “praise” of any real meaning.

The Lord did not send his son for his own good, but for ours. It was the ultimate gift to grant us the forgiveness of our sins that we couldn’t have received any other way. It is a gift worthy of our deepest thanks and fullest attention. 

As we enter this Advent season, may we do so with a contrite heart and a deep gratitude for what God has done for us. Let our thoughts and actions cut through the clutter that can shroud the holiday season and allow us to truly appreciate what we are celebrating. Let’s not go through the motions of singing the songs and lighting the candles, but instead live our lives so that we are giving thanks not just in church, but with everything we do.

Prayer: Lord, may our offerings be acceptable in your sight, may our worship be reflective of our thanks and may our daily lives be a sign of our gratitude. For your forgiveness, for the gift of your Son, and for all your blessings may we be eternally grateful. Amen.

Daily Challenge: Take time throughout the day to say "thank you" to the Lord and allow that gratitude to inform everything you do.