As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.

Devotion based on Luke 9:51

In the movie Up, the main character meets a talking dog named Dug. Dug introduces himself and begins to explain how he can talk. But then, in mid-sentence, he blurts out, “Squirrel!” Like any dog, Dug is easily distracted and loses his focus when he sees, from the corner of his eye, a squirrel dart out. We quote this scene in our house when someone loses their train of thought and something else has caught their attention.

The Bible describes our natural spiritual state not in terms of a distracted dog, but as a wandering sheep. The Prophet Isaiah wrote, “We like sheep have gone astray; each of us has turned his own way” (Isaiah 53:6). Things in the peripheral of life that are not all that important catch our attention and distract us from what really matters. One moment we can be focused on God’s words and will, but then, something else darts out in front of us, and we chase after that thing. We chase after popularity. We chase after our favorite pastime, we chase after the material world. When our attention to Jesus and his words and ways is divided, so is our commitment to him. Many things try to steal our attention and commitment away from our Savior.

Thank the Lord, he didn’t get distracted. Jesus lived and worked in the same world of distractions that you and I live in, and yet, he was never distracted from his mission. He was completely committed to saving us from sin and saving us from all the times we’ve let those distractions lead us astray and lead us away. As the time came near for Jesus to suffer and die and rise from the dead, he set his face toward Jerusalem. What focus! What complete commitment. Because Jesus was fully committed, you are fully forgiven. So, let’s give our undivided attention to Jesus. Let those things remain in the peripheral so that Jesus and his salvation stay in clear view.

Prayer:

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All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.