FOCUS FOR IMPACT (1)

“Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem”” – Luke 9:51

Along with Purpose, another Ingredient that our Lord Jesus Christ modelled is FOCUS for IMPACT: “Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem” (Lk.9:51). This describes the steadfastness of Jesus in the pursuit of His life’s assignment. The New Living Translation says, “Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.” That means nothing could stop Him because He was focused on going to Jerusalem. We who believe in Him must follow His Pattern. We need to be steadfast like our Lord!

Focus means single-mindedness and concentration. To be focused is to be purposeful and targeted; to prioritize, to be of one idea, and steady aim. 1 Kings 20:39-40 narrates how a man was busy, going here and there, and lost what was kept in his custody. No one can make maximum impact in life while being here and there, dabbling in everything: “Like a bird that wanders from its nest is a man who wanders from his place” (Pro.27:8). We must set our face on what is needful, not what is convenient: “But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her” (Lk.10:42).

Beloved, set your face like a flint on your purpose. Be determined in God and you will be able to make maximum impact. Isaiah 50:7 says, “For the Lord GOD will help Me; therefore I will not be disgraced; Therefore I have set My face like a flint, And I know that I will not be ashamed.” No one will make maximum impact in life whose face is not set like a stone or who lacks focus. Those who set their face tend to achieve more than those who do not.

The four men, who brought the paralytic to the Lord Jesus Christ for healing in Mark 2:1-12, exemplified focus. When the crowd posed a barrier to getting the paralytic to Jesus to heal, they removed the roof of the house where Jesus was ministering and lowered him down. The crowd could not stop them. Their approach was unconventional, and it demonstrated their focus. Mark 2:5 says, “When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven you.”  

Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector, was also a focused man. He did not allow the large crowd, his height, or his social status to hinder him from seeing Jesus. He climbed a sycamore tree to see him. He did not just see Jesus, Jesus saw him, and followed him home – Salvation came to his house (Lk.19:1-10). Dwight L. Moody has been quoted as saying, “Give me a man who says this one thing I do, and not these fifty things I dabble in.” Let’s be focused for God-glorifying Maximum Impact!