Distractions and Divisions: Majoring in the Minors

Sunday was an out-of-the-ordinary day for me. My beautiful niece, is just weeks away from blessing our family with a healthy baby boy. Baby JT (they aren’t giving us his name yet, just initials) will be my first great-nephew! He will also be my parents’ first great-grandchild. So it was only appropriate that we attend her baby shower, even if it was on a Sunday afternoon three hours away in another state. That’s what families do!

My sister-in-law offered to drive so we made a day of it. Sitting in the back seat of my brother’s brand new extended cab pickup truck, leather and loaded, my seat partner was my 12 year old niece Gracie. What fun we had telling stories that she had never heard before about family. Then on the way back, we played a game Gracie wanted to play: Start two words of a story then the next person repeats those words, adds their two words, and so it goes. I must say they were a bit ridiculous but I don’t know the last time I have laughed so hard.

I said all of that to say this: Driving down I-275 in Ohio, chatting away, all of a sudden my SIL swerves over into the median and then immediately corrects herself beautifully back onto the busy highway just like she had meant to do it. What I did NOT see was the driver beside us who was busy on his phone and not paying attention. He had wandered into our lane so quickly she had to react. React is exactly what she did; pickup trucks are not just for men! So many times in a situation like that you over-correct and cause a wreck, or you jerk so quickly to miss the guilty vehicle that you flip your own. Thankfully God was watching out for us and Shauna was an excellent driver.

It could have been so much worse; all because of distraction.

It’s been a busy time, to many a frustrating week. Don’t worry; I’m not going to become political. We all have opinions and convictions. Instead, let us think about spiritual warfare, about someone else who has been busy, very busy with distraction and divisions. The Bible tells us that Satan is like a roaring lion, roaming to and fro. Doing what? He is seeking whom he may DEVOUR. (1 Peter 5:8.)

“Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42 ESV.

Martha was distracted. The scripture doesn’t say she was too busy, it doesn’t say she was guilty of doing something insignificant. But she was distracted by the things that were not important Distracted means to be physically pulled or dragged away from something. There was division between Martha and her sister, Mary.

Everyone had to eat eventually; even Jesus would share their meal. But Martha was distracted with MUCH serving. Mary was “at the feet of Jesus” which doesn’t particularly mean she was sitting right on His toes. It was used to signify that she was a follower of Jesus, she made it her purpose to hang on His every word and if He was in the room there was NOTHING else that would distract her from hearing from Him!

Is that where we find ourselves today? All of the political, social and economic happenings are important and not to be taken lightly. But what could we be doing that is more important, no matter how we feel about different situations?

Majoring in the Minors

Look at this passage of scripture that speaks so plainly (the bold emphasis is mine):

“But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.

Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames. But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness.

And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight. And remember, our Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved. This is what our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom God gave him— speaking of these things in all of his letters. Some of his comments are hard to understand, and those who are ignorant and unstable have twisted his letters to mean something quite different, just as they do with other parts of Scripture. And this will result in their destruction.

You already know these things, dear friends. So be on guard; then you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose your own secure footing. Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen.” 2 Peter 3:3-18 NLT.

I could have easily highlighted it all, it is so good. Peter is telling us that there are things out there that can easily trip us up, distract us and keep us from our ultimate purpose: that the Lord might delay His coming just so more people could be saved! While we are waiting for His return we are to be living peaceful lives, pure and blameless in His sight, pointing others to Him.

This is nothing new; these are the Apostle Peter’s words, not mine! So we must be on guard! Pour ourselves into study of the Word so we will not be fooled and confused and lose our own secure footing.

I am not taking lightly anything that is going on in the world from ISIS terrorism to racial relations, marriage redefinition, who will be the next president of the United States and on and on and on…it is all important! We should be praying, fasting, petitioning God to have mercy on our country and our world. None of these things should surprise the Christian…we have the playbook! We know these things must come to pass before the Lord will come to take us out of here and we will be ushered into His presence. We do not know when that day will be but I just have to think the Lord is grieved with our distraction and the devil is dancing with glee.

Let us remember the MAJORS: The Gospel, reaching the lost, sharing the literal Good News that Jesus Christ still delivers, still saves, still heals, still brings hope to the hopeless. If we don’t tell them, who will? May we not be so distracted by letting our voices be heard on the latest Supreme Court decision, mass shooting, or act of terrorism that we forget to tell the one sitting beside us at lunch that Jesus is the answer. And the way out.

Souls going out into eternity are the majors, everything else is minor.

Kingdom2Sharing with UNITE, Tell me a true story, Good morning Mondays, Sharing His Beauty, Small Wonder, Testimony Tuesday, #RaRaLinkup, Wedded Wednesday, #TellHisStory, A Llittle R & R, Family Fun Friday, Flagstaff Home Weekend Blog Hop, Fellowship Fridays, Faithful at Home Fridays, Grace & Truth

24 thoughts on “Distractions and Divisions: Majoring in the Minors

  1. Nannette Post author

    That section in Peter is just so good isn’t it? It has got America in an uproar but greater is He that is in us than He that is in the world. There is nothing that can come against us that He is not aware of. He surely is coming back for His people soon! All of these things must come to pass, we should not be surprised, right? Blessings and so nice to meet you! ♥ And thank you for featuring my post!

  2. Sarah @ The Life of This Mother

    Oh, this is so good. In NZ, this “happening” was passed last year so I feel for Americans who feel betrayed by their own government. It is very easy to get caught up in what seems like major issues but really are the minor ones. Perhaps this is why Paul encouraged the Thessalonians, who were being persecuted, to live a quiet life. The verses from Peter are so brilliant, I loved reading them and gave great perspective.

    Thank you for linking up at Faithful at Home Fridays – I would like to feature this post, it is just too good not to! Bless you!

  3. Candace Jo Post author

    I’m sorry I didn’t see this post, apologies! I hope you have recovered and rested from the Big Wedding. Everything looked so beautiful ♥ Thank you for your words of encouragement. I never feel as if I get the words out right but hopefully it will bless someone. Love to you!

  4. messymarriage

    That’s a great way to put it all into perspective, Nannette. This reminds me of the love chapter in 1st Corinthians–where love is greater than faith and hope. So that is where I am staying at Jesus’ feet–trying to soak up what it means to truly love. I do not do it well enough by any stretch of the imagination, so responding to these controversial changes and events in our culture is a bit scary for me. I know the weight of being an image bearer of Christ and Christian leader where much is required. I really want to ask the Lord to come quickly, but yet that might just be the cowards way out. Thanks for your beautiful insights today spoken from your true heart of love, my sweet friend!

  5. Candace Jo Post author

    I hesitated to copy such a long passage but wasn’t it so relevant??! It just smacked me and I am glad others are relating too. Blessings!

  6. Candace Jo Post author

    Thank yo Linda…it is so easy to be distracted and the outcome is not necessarily good. Lord help us.

  7. Candace Jo Post author

    Thank you for your sweet words Mary! Means so much. Thank you for taking the time to visit. ♥

  8. Candace Jo Post author

    Thank you so much Kathryn. I love having you visit and comment. Staying focused! ♥

  9. Candace Jo Post author

    Stay focused, stay focused. He is ever the same! ♥

  10. Candace Jo Post author

    Thank you for the linkup Hazel. I enjoy your words!

  11. Candace Jo Post author

    Seriously?! Wow…I am heading over to read yours in a second. How cool! I want to be more like Mary too…no matter how or when He speaks I want to listen. Blessings! ♥

  12. Candace Jo Post author

    Thank you for taking the time to comment. I enjoy your visits and visiting YOUR place as well. Blessings as we keep our eyes on Him. ♥

  13. Candace Jo Post author

    Thank you Laurie! Appreciate your words. Heading over to your place, hope the coffee is ready ♥

  14. Candace Jo Post author

    Thank you so much Susan. Appreciate your kind words. I will make a note of the linkup! Thank you for the invitation!

  15. Susan B Mead

    Nanette,

    YES. Every single word here could be in BOLD. Powerful truth. Thank you.

    May I invite you to join the DanceWithJesus Linkup each Friday at SusanBMead.com/blog? Your words would bless others there.

    Warmly,

    Susan

  16. Angela Parlin

    So true, let’s major in the majors…& that passage in 2 Peter—wow, I needed to read it today. Thank you for this! #RaRaLinkup

  17. Linda Stoll

    Nannette … this is a good piece on distractions. Disasters come more easily when we’re not focused on what’s important and non-negotiable. You gave us the perfect example here … and I’m taking it with me as I leave your place to today.

    Blessings!

  18. Mary Geisen

    This is a beautiful reminder to keep our eyes on God in all we do. Let the distractions of the world be exactly that – little blips that do not change our focus. Keeping our eyes on God and the reasons He chose us to be here at this time in our lives is where our energy needs to be.

    On a side note, I love how you are such a family person. Intentional time with family is so important. Blessed to be here with you today.

  19. Kathryn Shirey

    Great reminder to stay focused on what matters. Show love and share Christ to each person we encounter.

  20. Karen Brown

    Nannette- Thank you for this well-crafted reminder. Our enemy is working hard to distract us, but we must stay focused. These words say it all : ” Jesus Christ still delivers, still saves, still heals, still brings hope to the hopeless. ” AMEN!

  21. Hazel Moon

    What is our real focus? To keep safely on the road even when the driver behind us is on the phone. The path before us may become rocky, but God is still on the throne and we have our assignment to pray and to win the lost. Thank you for your lovely post and great reminder to not become distracted, shared with us here at Tell me a Story.

  22. Sharon

    This is one of those uncanny *God* things – this is the exact thing that I wrote about this week!! (Great minds think alike? Or at least we’re inspired by the Holy Spirit!!) Couldn’t agree more with what you talked about. I am so often a Martha-thinker. I want to be more like Mary – for, after all, there truly is only ONE thing that matters. That we belong to Jesus…

    GOD BLESS!

  23. bluecottonmemory

    Such a good word, Nannette! I’m learning to not get so distracted and keep my eyes on Him!!!! Trust Him! So glad you guys were safe and your sister-in-law was vigilant!

  24. Laurie Collett

    So true — Satan loves to distract us to keep us too busy to serve God and spend time alone with Him. May we choose to be like Mary and not let anything distract us from loving Him and hearing His Word. Linked up with you at Tell Me a True Story — hope you’ll stop by Saved by Grace for a visit!
    God bless,
    Laurie

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