I was driving to the church office this morning and heard the most interesting article, I knew I had to share it with you all.  The article was talking about a recent survey where American’s were asked what they would be willing to give up to keep their cellphone.  40% of those surveyed said they would give up their dog for a month as long as it meant they could keep their cellphone.  44% said they would give up their spouse for a month in order to keep the phone!  WHAT?!

It’s hard to believe that forty-some percent would rather have their phone than their dog and or spouse, unless you are one of those in the 40%, but then we have to start talking about priorities if you do find yourself in that group.  If asked about your relationship with Christ, would you be willing to give your phone up for a month?  I wonder sometimes if Jesus is asking that of us but we push it aside as a crazy idea and continue to scroll through the next thing.  Of course I am the most guilty of this, but it is something to look at.

Would Christ ever tell us to put our phones down?  Is there a benefit to your life in putting it down?

First, I don’t see anywhere in the Bible that Jesus tells you to do something just because it will be fun for Him to see you do it.  He has the best in mind for you, and typically is asking you to do something because you will grow into the best you possible, or because it will benefit someone else that Jesus is sending you to help.  Part of becoming the best you is to have a deeper trust in Jesus so when the challenge comes to listen you are ready and will trust that He has the best for you.  In other words will you allow Him to work in and through you?  It is a circular movement of Jesus using you because you put your faith in Him, but for your faith to be placed in Jesus you must be used and grow in faith.  I liken this to swimming.  The only way to swim is to jump in the water, then you practice so you can become a better swimmer, and you become a better swimmer so you can swim more…

Why doesn’t this process work when we get distract?  Mainly because we are blind to the workings of Jesus.  We can’t hear Jesus or see what He is up to is due to our own distractions.  The Bible calls this idolatry, it's anything we put ahead of, more important, than Jesus.  This may not always be intentional but it still happens due to our lives being filled with advertisements, activities, and distractions.  What is the remedy if we are serious about seeing Jesus at work in our lives and growing closer to him?  The term Scot McNight uses is a culture of “Christoformity.”  How do we do this?

Paul gave the answer to the church in Philippi when he wrote Philippians 4:8–9 (NIV): "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."

Our priorities will never line up with God’s when we are focused on things that distract us from life, and from the one who made life.  What is good and right, whatever is pure and lovely, admirable… these are the things worth listening to. 
Perhaps God isn’t saying put your phone away for a month, but perhaps He is asking you “hey, what are you looking at?  Is that really good for you?  Is it going to be helpful for your life or is it pulling you down, making you bitter and doing the opposite of what I want for your life?"

Is that feed or movie or article making you a better person, or simply pulling you into a funk that really is not the best for you?  Sometimes, it takes an intentional break for things to see how they are really impacting you.  My wife goes through a time every spring where she stops using Facebook for a month and a half.  I can tell you the difference I see in her and know from her experience that life has a much brighter outlook when her time is spent on good things.

Perhaps, God is trying to get your attention because He has something amazing to show you?  Take a minute today and see, where do your priorities line up and are they what is best.