Hosanna Restoration Church

(Hebrews 12:2a)

Many people say that the Gospel is just too simple, that it can’t be that easy. Others will say it is just to complicated. How can we possibly do and be everything that the Bible tells us? One person interprets it this way and another one thinks it is this way. I know there are a lot of preferences, and I have a few of my own. There are certain things that help my walk with God that others may not totally agree with and there are some things that others prefer that I don’t adhere to. Still, it is not that complicated. In fact, the answer is always the same.

How do we run this race? How do we get rid of the things that hold us back? How do we overcome differences? The same way we do everything once we accept the salvation of the Lord and ask Jesus into our hearts. We keep our eyes on Him. As long as we focus on Jesus, all the arguments and the doubts, and the confusion will fade away. Our preferences and peculiarities should not take precedence over the love of God.

I just began reading “The Screwtape Letters,” and I have to say I can’t wait to read the whole thing. One of the first and foremost tactics that the enemy uses in the book is to get the people to focus on anything but Jesus. They suggest that you get them to find things in the people around them that are not right, or to find things in the church to complain about or criticize. Of course the enemy does not want people to focus on Jesus. If they do, they will love the people and love the fellowship and the devil will not be able to defeat them.

So how do we overcome temptation? We focus on Jesus. We don’t even need to try and figure out what Jesus would do, we just need to focus on Him. If we focus on Him, He may give us something to do, or He may just hold us and encourage us in ways that really are beyond our mental ability to comprehend. Honestly, just being with Him pushes aside those sins that normally take us over so easily. Often times when people are trying to figure out what they should do, they open themselves up to suggestions that may not be God’s idea at all. The pressure to perform in order to overcome the evil with good may just play right into the hands of the deceiver.

Overcoming evil with good is as simple as going to the only one that is good. Time with Him may well inspire some outburst of love or goodness that completely wipes out the thing that was trying to pull us down. But focusing on Him is the key.

What is it that is messing with your life? Don’t let it trouble you for one more moment. Stop right now and focus on Jesus. Just look to Him and receive the peace He has. Accept his wisdom and live in His power. Feel His arms around you. Now just begin to praise and thank Him. Now that is better isn’t it?