Pay Attention!
Exodus 23:13: "Pay attention to all that I have said to you and make no mention of the names of other gods, nor let it be heard on your lips."
Pay attention! How easy it is to wander – to allow our minds to wander, our hearts to wander, our spirits to wander. God is speaking to his people and calling them to seek him, to know him, and to obey him. Doing so will require incredible intentionality and focus. To guide them in this focus, the Lord provides these guidelines of the covenant to expand upon the Ten Commandments and to guide the nation of Israel in appropriating the commandments.
The Lord would have his people continually check their focus by calling them to faithfully observe the Sabbath and to celebrate Feasts three times a year. These observances kept the focus on the Lord, what he had done for his people, and how he continually provided for and cared for them. The Lord understood that people become like what they focus on. When the Israelites focused on the other nations and their pagan practices, they became like those nations and emulated their worship. When they kept their focus on the one true God, they became his holy people.
Just as the nation of Israel was called to pay attention, so are we. We, too, must consider what we allow to influence us. We need to consider what we watch, what we hear, and what we love. Paul speaks these words to the church in Philippi: "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things" (Philippians 4:8). We become like the things on which we focus. May we choose to focus on the things of the Lord.
Reflection:
How are you challenged by Paul's words to the Philippians? Is there anything the Lord would like you to consider about the focus of your heart and mind today?
Pay attention! How easy it is to wander – to allow our minds to wander, our hearts to wander, our spirits to wander. God is speaking to his people and calling them to seek him, to know him, and to obey him. Doing so will require incredible intentionality and focus. To guide them in this focus, the Lord provides these guidelines of the covenant to expand upon the Ten Commandments and to guide the nation of Israel in appropriating the commandments.
The Lord would have his people continually check their focus by calling them to faithfully observe the Sabbath and to celebrate Feasts three times a year. These observances kept the focus on the Lord, what he had done for his people, and how he continually provided for and cared for them. The Lord understood that people become like what they focus on. When the Israelites focused on the other nations and their pagan practices, they became like those nations and emulated their worship. When they kept their focus on the one true God, they became his holy people.
Just as the nation of Israel was called to pay attention, so are we. We, too, must consider what we allow to influence us. We need to consider what we watch, what we hear, and what we love. Paul speaks these words to the church in Philippi: "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things" (Philippians 4:8). We become like the things on which we focus. May we choose to focus on the things of the Lord.
Reflection:
How are you challenged by Paul's words to the Philippians? Is there anything the Lord would like you to consider about the focus of your heart and mind today?
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