“Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.” 1 Timothy 4:16

I have developed a habit that I don’t like. I accidentally discovered it when I got out of bed and found myself, first thing, stepping on a scale! In the couple seconds I stood there awaiting the digital scale’s calibration, I realized it was about to tell me if I would be ‘happy’ or ‘disappointed!’ Then thought hit me…”hey meathead…are you outta your MIND?” Which is probably the most sane thought I had for the rest of the day!

After a physical about 6 months ago, I was told to lose some weight. That diagnosis has caused me to make many changes, altering my lifestyle. Stepping on a scale, something I rarely did, is now a common occurrence. While standing there waiting for the ‘BEEP’ and result, the thought of my mental state led to a term I’ll call “Hocus Focus!” After acknowledging that I AM nuts…the NEXT question was, ‘but what am I nuts FOR?”

Today’s Bible verse didn’t just come to me from my daily Bible reading. I actually went LOOKING for it with the attitude of, “can you tell me where to find the flour?” After meditating on its meaning, it appears to be more like discovering a cure for cancer! The subject of the verse is ‘YOU!’ And I mean ‘ME!’ Like SO many Bible verses, GOD is indirectly speaking to ME. And He isn’t asking questions. He’s giving COMMANDS!

If I can’t swim, the easiest thing to do is avoid water! Weight is not MY primary problem! But HOCUS FOCUSING on it can take my eyes OFF of what my problem REALLY is. What I do, where I go, what and why I believe and how I allow those primary things to dictate my life is what ‘the Doctrine of my life’ really IS! AND THAT affects other people as well. So God is telling me I’d better discern, watch and FOCUS VERY carefully.

There’s an old saying, “the main thing, is to keep the main thing, the main thing!” In a world full of turmoil, sorrow, manipulation and lies, the most important thing, as far as the Bible concludes is, ‘what is true, and is my main focus standing upon that truth? ‘ Reading more into this verse, the prize for doing just that ISN’T a microwave or a new car! But ‘ETERNAL LIFE!’

What I DO today is FAR more serious than I previously thought! MAN…I’ve got to get rid of some REALLY SERIOUS dead weight!