People Of Focus
One of the qualities which placed men and women like Noah, Abel, Enoch, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Gideon and others on the “Honor Roll” of “the faithful” recorded in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews was their ability to maintain their focus for most of their lives. Yes, they all had their lapses. But they each recovered because they were driven by their desire for “a better country, that is a heavenly one.” (v. 16). That was their main point of focus. Daniel is not mentioned by name on that “Honor Roll” but his life saw many of the same conflicting emotions those mentioned saw.
We have been approaching this week with a lot of excitement as we have been preparing to look again at some of the decisions Daniel and his friends made in trying to maintain their focus. We will be exploring his early days in Babylon including his being chosen to serve in the King’s court which positioned him for interpreting two dreams of major importance in Babylonian history. We will also be looking at how his favorable position with the Crowned leaders placed him and his three close friends and fellow-believers in extreme jeopardy as those jealous of their success sought ways to destroy them. Daniel along with his three friends survived the ordeals because they were men of focus.
The writer of “The Book of Hebrews” challenged us to “lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith…” He then proceeds to remind us how Jesus did it… “who for the joy set before Him (He stayed focused!) endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God..” (Heb. 12:1,2)
He kept His focus!
It is so easy to become distracted by the “calls” from so many different directions–all of which are soliciting our support and involvement in their schemes. Daniel and his three friends survived the “calls” of their day by maintaining their focus. This is why we have chosen to concentrate on them this week. Our prayer is that each person participating in VBS this coming week (child and adult) will be encouraged to maintain their focus…and–if they have lost their focus–to recapture it.
We hope you have made plans to come and bring your children, grandchildren, other relatives and friends to each night of VBS this week. Sally McDiffitt, Brian & Amy Games, Brad Schrum and Kay Sowinski will be touching on key points in the Daniel’s life as they teach those who are ages 3 through Grade 6. We are excited to have Terry Lafferty (Mon.), Jeffery Dillinger (Tues.), John Wright (Wed.) back with us again this year to teach the adult class and we are looking forward to Tom Butterfield of Pursley, WV, being added to the list of teachers for the first time this year. Please keep all of these teachers in your prayers as they help direct us in being “People of Focus.”