A child may be bouncing a ball or playing with a favorite toy and their mother says, “Put it away. It’s time to focus on getting ready for school.” A student may be fidgeting with something in class and the teacher says, “Put it away and focus on your class work.” A teen might be glancing at texts coming through their cellphone and their parent says, “Put it away and focus your attention on the road.” An office worker may be sitting back reading a magazine or novel, and their boss pops in and says, “Put it away and focus on why you are here.” Yes, life is filled with things that can occupy our focus and time to the neglect of more important things, and it doesn’t matter our age that we need to be serious about this.
Writing to the Christians at Ephesus, Paul exhorted. . .
“(31) Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. (32) Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:31-32 ESV)
As we prayerfully consider our own life, what needs to be put away so that we can be focused on being who we have been called to be in Christ? Being kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving are attributes of our Lord that are to be characteristic of our own manner of living. It is how we show Him our appreciation for having received such from Him and how He is glorified as we continuing becoming more and more like Him. May we continue surrendering to the transformation in Christ as we focus our attention on the way we live each day we are brought into!
Have a great day LIVING THE LORD’S WAY!
Carl
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