The Three Most Important Things: Focus, Focus, Focus

Scripture: Job 28-29; Gal. 1-2

Galatians 1:1-5
I, Paul, and my companions in faith here, send greetings to the Galatian churches. My authority for writing to you does not come from any popular vote of the people, nor does it come through the appointment of some human higher-up. It comes directly from Jesus the Messiah and God the Father, who raised him from the dead. I’m God-commissioned. So I greet you with the great words, grace and peace! We know the meaning of those words because Jesus Christ rescued us from this evil world we’re in by offering himself as a sacrifice for our sins. God’s plan is that we all experience that rescue. Glory to God forever! Oh, yes!

Galatians 2:19-21
What actually took place is this: I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn’t work. So I quit being a “law man” so that I could be God’s man. Christ’s life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not “mine,” but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that.

Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God’s grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping, then Christ died unnecessarily.

Observations: Paul clearly foresaw my struggles with balancing leadership with followership. He also knew my inner battle at keeping the congregation harmonious and balanced while leading them in a challenging fashion. Its not about a popular vote. Its not really about the leadership of those in charge of me. Its about whether or not the popular vote is behind Jesus’s teaching and leadership. And its about whether or not the leadership of the Church–bishops, district superintendents, pastors, and leaders from the pews–are following Jesus’s lead.

It is never about what people think of me. When I alter a plan based on how well I will be received, then I have failed and the plan has likely suffered as well. Moreover, my relationship with God has taken a hit.

Application: With a level gaze and a firm hand, I will lead the people as God leads me. Grace and mercy are the keys to understanding them, for it is how God tolerates my shortcomings.

To be successful as a disciple, I must focus on the main thing. To be successful as a pastor, I must focus on the main thing. To be successful as a leader in the church, I must focus on the main thing. The main thing is the example and teaching of Jesus Christ on how to live in the Kingdom that God has called into existence.

Prayer: It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives within me. Help me, God, not to choke him with my ego. Thank you for sending your Son to lead us. And thank you, Lord Christ, for your resolve and strength. I pray in your name, Amen.