You are being discipled by what has your attention. God wants our attention; the world wants our attention; and the enemy wants our attention. In this message, Pastor Jamie Nunnally shines light on the battlefield that is the screen in our hand.
Whatever has your attention can eventually have your allegiance.
Romans 1:25 NLT They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself.
Worship is three things happening in succession: attention, which leads to affection, which leads to action.
Screens compete for your attention.
Attention is the first step toward worship, so we should probably pay attention to what we’re paying attention to.
Psalm 46:10 NLT Be still, and know that I am God…
When we fill every quiet moment with someone else’s voice, we can’t complain when we never hear God’s voice.
Almost every important spiritual discipline requires sustained attention.
We’re making it harder on ourselves to draw near to God.
2. Screens compete for our affection.
Matthew 6:21 NLT Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
And one of the most valuable things you have to invest is your attention.
What repeatedly catches your eye can eventually capture your heart.
3. Screens compete for our action.
Eventually what gets my attention and captures my affection begins changing how I live.
If you are not being transformed by the Lord, you will be conformed to the world. What you feed on eventually determines your formation.
Watching church online is like watching a campfire on TV. You can see the light, but you can’t feel the warmth.
Christianity is a “one another” faith. Love one another, encourage one another, serve one another, forgive one another, pray for one another. You can’t “one another” yourself.
Researchers in Milan Italy put a woman who appeared pregnant on a crowded subway to see who would offer her their seat. Normally, about one-third of passengers would give up their seat for her.
Then they added Batman.
Another researcher simply walked into the train dressed as Batman, and suddenly over two-thirds of passengers offered the woman their seat. That’s double the amount. Why?
Researchers believe the unexpected event of Batman showing up interrupted people’s routines and made them more present and aware of what was going on around them. They looked up. Their attention stirred their affection, and their affection changed their action.
What are you missing because you’re distracted? Maybe one of the most spiritual things you can do this week is simple: Look up.
The war for your attention is ultimately a war for your worship.
Who or what has your attention?