Laser Focused and Stable
James 1:5-8
Verse 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
Yesterday we talked about how doubt can come in waves and cause an unsettling in our faith. What is the result of such doubt in our lives?
The verse before our key verse for the day gives a very sobering fact from James about God and His character. James needs his readers, and us, to see the seriousness of allowing doubt to crowd out our faith. James warns in verse 7 that people who are unstable should not expect anything from God.
That brings us to our key verse for today. James tells his readers that if we ride the waves of doubt we will find ourselves drifting wherever the wind and waves take us. This is a problem in the Christian life because it often causes us to drift from the firm foundation of who God is and what He is doing. And that is why James says such a person is double-minded.
None of us want to think of ourselves as double-minded but we can’t deny that we can’t be focused on Jesus and the waves at the same time. As we said yesterday, Peter started slipping when his focus slipped from Jesus. We can’t be watching our problems and Him at the same time and expect to stay stable in our faith. When we lose our focus on Jesus we step off of the rock of His teaching.
Paul told the Ephesians that the Holy Spirit gave the gifts of teaching and preaching for the benefit of the Church so that they wouldn’t be tossed about by every new wave of teaching (Ephesians 4:11-14). Without a clear focus on Jesus and His teachings we don’t have a firm enough grasp on who He is and so what good would His wisdom do us?
The very fact that we are asking for wisdom speaks to our being in a hard place in life, we wouldn’t be asking if we thought we knew what to do. If we truly want His wisdom we need to be making sure that it is only His wisdom and leading we are seeking.
Making It Personal
When is a time in your life that you were laser focused on your troubles in your instead of keeping your focus solely on Jesus? Did focusing on your troubles help you get out of them? How would God’s wisdom have helped you during that time?
Making It Personal Kids
What happens when you try to think about other things at the same time you think about Jesus? Can you talk to Jesus the same you are talking to someone else? Can you read your Bible while watching TV? Which wins out for your attention?
Closing Prayer
Father, forgive us for the times we fail to make You our only focus. Help us know that You deserve our sole devotion. In Jesus’ name, amen.