Letters From Grandpa #577

• LETTERS FROM GRANDPA
• 577

Dearest grandchild,

Todays letter will deal with “focus”. There is an old Chinese proverb that the person who chases two rabbits catches neither. Paul recognized this truth and said: “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13) Focus is the secret of success!

My wristwatch is only an inch square yet it displays nine pieces of information: TIMEX, set, start-stop, date, time, mode, split-reset, water resistant, and INDIGLO. Even though the watch is small, I can still only focus on one item at a time. In the same way you can see all your friends in your graduation picture at the same time, but you can only focus on one friend at a time.

The Jews found 613 laws in the Torah. Hoping to divide the followers of Jesus an expert in the Law asked Jesus: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:36-40) If you focus on loving God with all your heart, soul, and mind everything else falls into place.

When Israel sinned in the wilderness God sent venomous snakes among them and many people died. Then: “The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.” (Numbers 21:8-9) Obviously this “look” at the bronze snake was not nonchalant but “focused”. Jesus reminded Nicodemus of this and said: “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” (John 3:15) Our eternal salvation involves keeping our eyes focused on Jesus!

The writer of Hebrews said it like this: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:1-3)

The Scriptures teach that Jesus “Is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.” (Colossians 1:18) Paul wrote to the Corinthians: “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of

smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.” (1 Corinthians 12:12-20) Please don’t let Satan separate you from Jesus, for He is the Head of His Body, the church! (Colossians 1:18)

God blessed Granny and me with five children. Like different members of the same body each one of them does something different. Uncle John is a pastor. Uncle David is a judge, Aunt Mary is a pastor’s wife, Uncle Steve is a retired government worker, and Uncle Paul works raising funds for worthy projects. Like different members of the same body I believe that each one of them is focusing on Jesus and doing what He has called them to do.

Please focus on Jesus and consider His loving invitation: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11;28-30) The Greek word translated as “easy” is “chrestos”. It means “pleasant” and “well fitting.” William Barclay says that there is a legend that over His carpenter’s shop in Nazareth was a sign stating that Jesus makes yokes that fit perfectly. If you are “weary” and “burdened” please focus on Jesus let Him give you a yoke that will provide rest for your soul!

I love you,

Grandpa Boyce