I don’t know about you but I’m sure that we can agree that there are lots of different distractions. Whether it’s our phones, a sporting event, a hobby, or even our jobs. While these things can be fun and enjoyable, another key distraction are people. People, as a whole, can be very distracting. We need to be careful on what kind of people we are around. The reason is because they could either lead us away from God or helping us move towards God. In today’s passage, David is saying a prayer to the Lord about keeping Him focused with Him and to not let the people, specifically the evil people, impact him and making him conformed to their way of living. In Romans 12:2, Paul reminds us to not be confirmed, or copy the behaviors, to this world, but instead be transformed by the renewing of your mind. When we are around other people, we have the tendency to act and behave like them just so that we can fit in with the crowd. That’s not how we are supposed to live. In Ephesians 5:1, Paul tells us to be Christ-like, or be imitators of God. The word “Christian” means Christ-like. Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:16 to let His light shine before others in such a way that they may see your good works and to glorify, or to lift up, the name of Jesus. Peter, in Matthew 14:22-33, wasn’t distracted by people but rather of the circumstances of himself and the apostles. When Peter was out on the water after being called by Jesus, he was focused on Jesus. When he lost his focus, he began to sink. Even though Jesus saved him, he asked him “why did you doubt me?” So often we would be distracted by people or the circumstances of the world that we begin to lose focus on what really matters.
I want to challenge you today to not get distracted by people who may be leading you away from the Lord or the circumstances of the season you are in, but instead stay focus on Jesus. The Hebrew writer says in Hebrews 12:2 to fix our eyes on Jesus. No matter what storm of ice you are in the midst of, continue to focus on Jesus because you will get out of that storm. It may not be on your timing because our time isn’t His time (Psalm 90:4, Isaiah 55:8-9, and 2 Peter 3:8), but you will get out of that season by the help of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5).
Psalm 75 NLT
For the choir director: A psalm of Asaph. A song to be sung to the tune “Do Not Destroy!”
1 We thank you, O God!
We give thanks because you are near.
People everywhere tell of your wonderful deeds.
2 God says, “At the time I have planned,
I will bring justice against the wicked.
3 When the earth quakes and its people live in turmoil,
I am the one who keeps its foundations firm. Interlude
4 “I warned the proud, ‘Stop your boasting!’
I told the wicked, ‘Don’t raise your fists!
5 Don’t raise your fists in defiance at the heavens
or speak with such arrogance.’”
6 For no one on earth—from east or west,
or even from the wilderness—
should raise a defiant fist.[a]
7 It is God alone who judges;
he decides who will rise and who will fall.
8 For the LORD holds a cup in his hand
that is full of foaming wine mixed with spices.
He pours out the wine in judgment,
and all the wicked must drink it,
draining it to the dregs.
9 But as for me, I will always proclaim what God has done;
I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.
10 For God says, “I will break the strength of the wicked,
but I will increase the power of the godly.”