Fix Your Eyes...

What if I told you that your job was about more than just a paycheck? What if I told you that raising your kids was about more than just feeding them? What if I told you that your trips to the grocery store were about more than just stocking your fridge? What if I told you that you coaching your kid's ball team was about more than your wins and losses? 

​Right about now some of you are reflecting on the large amount of effort that you put into these things and wondering why anyone would say something to negate your efforts. Here's a tip, "It's not about the effort, it's about the purpose behind the effort". Why do you do all of the things that you do? What the "why" behind your "what"? 

Everyone wants to matter right? Everyone wants to think that what they're doing has some sort of lasting impact. We've all met people who are clearly purposeless. We've all met people who ask the question, "What's the point?" What's the point of working? What's the point of another trip to the grocery? What's the point of these crazy kids who just constantly eat? If you're honest, you've probably asked similar questions yourself? 

What's interesting is that as Christ followers we often pitch that coming to Jesus brings hope. Coming to Jesus brings purpose. Coming to Jesus brings "a point" to all that we do. Here's a question to consider, "Is that the example that you set as you live your life?" Why, if we believe that Jesus brings purpose do you and I continue to live our lives as if work is just about a paycheck? Why do we continue to live our lives as if trips to the grocery store are just about filling the fridge? Why do we live our lives as if coaching our kids is about wins and losses? 

Hebrews 12:1-2 says, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith...."

Focus in on that last part, "fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith..." If we truly believe that Jesus is the pioneer of our faith then we have to believe that where we are, is exactly where He wants us to be. We're not at the grocery store by accident. We're not employed where we're employed by accident. We're not coaching our kids by accident. The pioneer of your faith has placed you exactly where you are and it's our responsibility "fix our eyes" on Jesus and discover why we're there. Hint: it's not to collect a paycheck, fill the fridge or win a game. 

Allow me to encourage you to keep focused on the pioneer of your faith and why He has placed you where He has placed you. It's not about the "what", it's about the "why". Open your eyes. Open your ears. Discover the "why" behind your "what". 

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