What Do Magicians, Advertisers, Negotiators, Politicians, And Thieves Have in Common?
Good Morning Friends,
Misdirection is intentionally diverting someone’s attention in order to mislead them. I do not want to rob you of that miracle of the moment but the world is filled with these shifting shadows. Yesterday I picked up a book to read at a store while waiting for a print job and its title was related to what leaders notice. One of the chapters was the basis for today’s question. As you read the scripture I hope this meditation helps you to see more clearly the need for leaders to recognize the importance of today’s question. What Do Magicians, Advertisers, Negotiators, Politicians, And Thieves Have in Common?
Scripture: Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
James 1:17 (NIV)
Do you have eyes, and fail to see? Do you have ears, and fail to hear? And do you not remember?
Mark 8:18 (NRSV)
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 3:14-21 (NRSV)
You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness. Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act–they will be blessed in their doing. If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
James 1:19-27 (NRSV)
Message: Just what are we concerned about really? Paul, in today’s scripture from Ephesians, gives us a look at what should really concern our minds and emotions. Society is constantly attempting to stain us with dialogue designed to put us in a box to better control us. It is almost certain death to be in such a coffin. Jesus the man was subjected to this same treatment. But in His own ministry He would not be put in a box. He would not stay in the tomb. He would not buy into the world’s misdirection. He and the Spirit in him would not submit to things that diminish the worth of another person or of God. His focus was in revealing the sacred worth of all people. No court magicians, Jewish politicians, religious thieves, nor Roman negotiators could take him off focus. So, today as we face the issue of control and misdirection. And here we might just discover the means of achieving liberty. Here we might just discover that there are some things God wants us to give up so that we can receive something even better. Here in the crucible of community we learn to substitute the fruit of the spirit as a means of survival. Friends, once we are in touch with the fear and violence still within us and among us we can use it to help us understand the grip of those forces have in the world and in our lives. Then we can fight the deceptions and misdirection of the world.
Pray our prayers get God’s attention.
Pray we measure our success against God’s purpose for our lives. Pray we be doers not deceivers. Pray we understand the difference between a real and phony faith. Pray when we look in the mirror we see a reflection of the Spirit of truth. Pray we not pass up joy. Pray we see the truth in changed lives. Pray we not allow the distractions of life to cause us problems with our walk with Jesus. Pray we give permission to God to change us from the inside out. Pray we surrender to Him and survive. Pray we look at our hands helping others out of the box not halting their freedom even as we grasp theirs in our ascent out of our pit. Pray that God free us from bondage in the box.
Pray we give thanks each day for the many blessings we have. Pray we realize that God is a gift that never stops giving. Pray we realize that God is the same yesterday, today and forever. Pray we be more incarnational. Pray we see and feel.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 