Attention

Luke 13:18-25 (The Message)

Then he said, "How can I picture God's kingdom for you? What kind of story can I use?

It's like a pine nut that a man plants in his front yard. It grows into a huge pine tree with thick branches, and eagles build nests in it."

He tried again. "How can I picture God's kingdom? It's like yeast that a woman works into enough dough for three loaves of bread—and waits while the dough rises."

He went on teaching from town to village, village to town, but keeping on a steady course toward Jerusalem.

A bystander said, "Master, will only a few be saved?"

He said, "Whether few or many is none of your business. Put your mind on your life with God. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires your total attention.


What gets your "total attention?"

Does anything really get our total attention?

If you've ever had little children, you know that a lot of their bad behavior, often goes back to not having the full attention of the important adults in their lives.

Even as I write this, my pet bulldog is constantly nudging my right hand, "tusking" me with the teeth that stick out of the front of her face.

She wants my attention.

So does our life.

So does God.

And as soon as we learn to put the right attention in the right places, things seem to open up into more space and time than we had before.

So, how do we pay attention to our lives...to God...to the Kingdom?

Prayer, meaning quiet time that's focused on listening more than talking.

Scripture, by letting God's words sit in our hearts and minds until they soften us and open up.

Worship, coming together with other believers and seekers to praise the God who is so much bigger than any one of us.

Relationships, because we need each other and we need to learn how to be healthy together.

Giving, it teaches us that we really don't have to cling with white knuckles to all that we have.

Serving, shows us the lives of other people and makes it more possible for us to receive grace and help from God and others.

Tonight, a group of believers from Shepherd of the Hills will go out into our community to deepen friendships with people who need some attention. We're going from house to house, visiting and meeting people, with no agenda...other than a time of focused attention.

It's like a pine cone falling into the ground. Slowly, but surely, the Kingdom grows into a mighty and towering forest. With a little attention to the things that matter most.

Prayer: Father God, we pray that today you could show us the way of focus and attention on the things that really matter most.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.