God Wants Our Attention

Dear child, I want your full attention; please do what I show you. Proverb 23:26 (Message)

These words strike the heart. They remind me of my mother’s words. My mother was a small—slightly round Cherokee woman with not a lot of this world’s education. What she lacked in education she made up in heart. My mother most always spoke from the heart. She always wanted me to listen to her heart. Mother loved people; she loved Jesus… many times she read of Him to me while I was sick. When she grew ill... my last words to her were of Him…

We are God’s children. He simply wants us to listen to his heart. His heart loves people. That is the message of the Gospel—that God loves people. So much so that he died to save them. Their response is to believe in him. Many have believed, many will not, this is an individual decision.

As God’s children we have an obligation to speak to the other children of this world about Jesus, to share our testimony of what he’s doing in our lives. What Jesus is doing in our lives is changing our hearts. This change is love--a love for all people.

As a child of God I’ve forgotten this love. Because of this my love for other people has cooled. Over the years I resigned myself to learning much about religion but showing very little love to those who need love. I’ve become comfortable in the lukewarmness of my own callused heart. That’s why I’ve written of repentance in past writings—my heart is seeking the full fruits of repentance…

These are uncomfortable words to write--I’m sure they are uncomfortable to read. But the Gospel of Jesus Christ is not one of comfort of the flesh but the purifying of the soul. I seek a pure heart before God. I’m seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness… (Matt. 6:33) I desire my full attention to be on God.

With all my heart I believe that our days on this earth are short—Christ’s return is imminent! All of our instruction, all of the good teaching that we’ve received is for a purpose and that is to work. We are blessed beyond our means; we can travel farther, faster… carry the Word electronically to people and places on this earth that before were unimaginable… “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest." (Matt. 9:37-38)

O God, save who you can save! Father, in these closing days… may we hear your heart… may we obey your voice. Father, raise up workers who will go to those who want to hear your Good News! Help us to stop playing ‘church’ and to be your church on this earth!