TEXT:

‘Let your eyes look directly ahead [toward the path of moral courage] and let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you [toward the path of integrity]’ – Proverbs 4:25 Amplified Bible

THOUGHT:

Recent visits to the theatre disturbed me about the intrusive use of mobile phones. It was amazing how many blue screens suddenly switched on once it was the interval. No, the owners of those phones could not enjoy a night out without looking at their phone. Sat just six rows from the stage, the excellent performance of Jules Holland and his band was marred by people in front of me videoing the concert. Trying to capture the moment, yet unaware they were helping to destroy that same moment for those sat behind them. I found out later that there was no restriction on recording the event like there normally is on other occasions.

• The blessing or curse of mobile phones

Every good invention can end up damaging instead of blessing. It is true that many lives have been saved by a mobile phone, but we will never know how much damage it has done to society.

The art of conversation is dying, replaced by steely stares at a tiny screen oblivious to what’s going on around. A family can each have a mobile and live in their own world without much thought for each other, text-speech replacing good old English! In churches too, members of the congregation could be engrossed with the sermon, faithfully looking up the scriptures or checking emails and playing games.

In Africa, mobile phones are multiplying rapidly and there are places to buy airtime everywhere. Watch out, for the same problems encountered in the developed world will soon be with them. What percentage of their meagre budget now goes to feed their talk-time instead of their family? Got to have money for the phone, never mind the church offering!

So what are you continually looking at and does it have a negative or positive effect on your life? The Bible records occasions where Jesus looked and I want to highlight just two of them that can help us to do likewise, particularly over this Christmas period. Then maybe we will have more time for each other and less time for the mobile phone!

• Still love those who do not see eye to eye with you – ‘Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack” – Mark 10:21

The rich young ruler had presented his credentials to Jesus hoping to hear that his good works would be enough to earn him eternal life. In response Jesus touched on something dear to his heart that was hindering him – the love of money! Unwilling to respond in the way that Jesus requested, he walked away sad. Jesus loved him, yet that love was not enough to bring about change in an unwilling heart.

How many conflicts, whether great or small, would start to be resolved if people would look at each other in love? The Bible does not reveal if later this man became a follower of Jesus, but that look of love would have given him every encouragement to do so. It enables parents to still love wayward children, spouses to still love disagreeable partners, smoothing the way to reconciliation and restoration of the marriage. Love is the best response. Try it and see how powerful it is! When your natural love is failing, God’s supernatural love is at your disposal to give you a helping hand.

• Still love those who fail you – ‘The Lord turned and looked at Peter .. so Peter went out and wept bitterly’ – Luke 22:61-62

The pressures on Peter were compounded by that look from Jesus, right after he had screamed out his third denial that he even knew Jesus. Unable to handle what he had just done, what he had insisted he would never do, he ran weeping bitterly. Did Jesus look at him in condemnation or to remind him of something He had said just a few hours earlier? “I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail, and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren” – Luke 22:31. Jesus was saying “When” not “If” you get over this, I still have plans for you. True enough, for just 52 days later on the Day of Pentecost, the one who had denied he had ever known Him, became the preacher of Good News. Boldness had replaced fear as Peter preached to the crowds “Repent”. Love and the power of the Holy Spirit had radically changed him.

Do not look with disdain at those who fail. Remember the words of a wise person, “There, but for the grace of God, go I”. Let those who do fail know that once repentant and restored, they still have a plan and purpose in life. God has not finished with them yet!

The challenge in this teaching is twofold.

Firstly, see how long you can go in the day without looking at your mobile. No, sleeping does not count!

Secondly, try to look at the person talking to you without looking at the screen at the same time. This is something I have to work on!

Finally, I finish with this Bible verse.

‘Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith’ – Hebrews 12:2