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Staying Focused Luke 9:56 "For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village." What an amazing question the disciples posed to Jesus when they said, "Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?" This question was asked because a city in Samaria did not receive Jesus as He was determined to go to Jerusalem. These people did nothing to Jesus, and yet the disciples were ready for Jesus to pray fire down from Heaven and kill them. What a sad commentary on the mindset of the disciples. The reason the disciples made a statement like this is because they lost their focus of the ministry. These men were wrapped up into the crowds and miracles, and forgot the purpose of why Jesus came to Earth. However, Jesus quickly tried to refocus the disciples on the purpose of the ministry by reminding them why He came to Earth when He said, "For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them..." Jesus simply reminded the men that the whole purpose why He performed miracles, fed the thousands and taught His parables was to help save people from their sins. Let me remind you that the whole purpose for any ministry should be people. The purpose of the bus ministry is to try and save people from their sins. The purpose of the Sunday school is to help save people from their sins. The purpose of the Christian school ministry is to help save people from their sins. The purpose of the nursing home ministry is to help save people from their sins. The purpose of any ministry that the church may have is to help save people from their sins. The purpose of any ministry should never be the number of people that it brings in. The purpose of any ministry should never be how much money it can make. Yes, it takes money to run a ministry, but money should never be the focus in a ministry. The purpose of any ministry should not be how big it can get so that it can be nationally recognized. The purpose of any ministry should always be to help people and try to lead them to Christ. When a ministry or a Christian loses their focus of the ministry, then they will be begin to run over people or hurt them for that which they are focused upon. The whole reason people are hurt in a ministry is because the ministry lost sight of their purpose. The whole reason a Christian will hurt another Christian is because they lost sight of why they are in the ministry. There are people all over the world who bitter at God and the church because a Christian or ministry lost their focus and began to hurt people. Be careful to always keep your focus proper about whatever ministry with which you are involved. Be sure that the ministry doesn't get bigger than the purpose. Always remember that the purpose of any ministry is to serve people. When we keep our focus right, then we will not take people for granted. Everyday you should ask God to help you stay focused on the people to whom you minister. Stay focused on their needs, and you will find that you will be less likely to hurt them. |