Practical Discipleship
For Christian Men
~ Helping men live intentional lives ~
Do you remember first learning how to hit a baseball?
When I was a kid, I remember standing in the batter's box and facing down a fastball. Unfortunately for wimpy little me, it was terrifying!
The details are fuzzy, but I clearly remember being really young (maybe 4th-5th grade) and watching kids three or four years older pitching a baseball at a young game. I don't think I was even playing, but it impacted me and my desire to play baseball for sure.
Seeing those older kids on the pitcher's mound was like seeing grown men throwing 100 mph fastballs! In fact, the sound of the ball hitting the catcher's mitt only confirmed the fact that if the ball were to hit me (which I was sure it would!), then I might surely die.
A little dramatic? Absolutely. But that's how I felt in the early days of my nonexistent baseball career.
Sadly, I never learned how to hit a baseball or how stand confidently in a batter's box, but I wish I had. That being said, there's a basic element to baseball that I think is worth understanding as you consider your life as a follower of Jesus.
When you're in the batter's box, fix your eyes on the ball and watch it all the way in. Don't take your eyes off it and concentrate fully on it - nothing else.
Basic instructions but profound truth.
You see, what you fix your eyes on matters a whole lot.
If you watch the baseball bat - and not the ball, for example, you'll miss more than you'll connect. Why? Because your focus is not on the right thing.
The same thing is true when it comes to your life as a disciple of Jesus.
What you fix your eyes and mind on determines everything.
Do you remember the story of Jesus walking on water? When Peter sees Him, he asks Jesus if he could join Him on the waves. Jesus, of course, says that he's welcome to do so and all is well until....what?
Peter's eyes looked away from Jesus!
All of a sudden, it was like he started focusing on the wrong things, stopped keeping his eyes on Jesus, and began to sink.
That's exactly what happens to you and I, too.
- We start focusing on our troubles and wonder why we're so anxious.
- We start focusing on how we're going to be able to fix our problems and wonder why we worry.
- We start focusing on the latest troubles in the world and wonder why we feel so unsettled.
The point, then, is obvious - isn't it?
Where are you focusing your eyes and fixing your gaze today?
I know this sounds very elementary, but I promise you it's not. I want you to carefully consider how well you do at KEEPING your eyes fixed on Jesus during the course of a typical day.
Do you read the Word?
Do you say a shallow, quick prayer and call it good for the day?
Do you think of God here and there, but don't really give any dedicated or intentional time to Him (if you're being really honest)?
Just like in baseball, where you fix your eyes determines how well you play the game.
But in this case, it's not a game at all. It's the only life you'll get, and you only have one shot at this. So, here's what I hope you'll do today:
Fix your eyes on Jesus.
Don't take your eyes off Him.
Then see how well you play today when you do.
Nate
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P.S.
Where are you fixing your attention and focus today?
Work, stress, distractions, sinful things, fear… it all pulls our eyes off Him one inch at a time.
Today, I don’t want you to try to fix everything in your life. I just want you to decide where your eyes will go first, longest, and most often.
That one choice might be the most important act of discipleship you practice all week.
**When you're ready...here are 3 ways that I can help:
- My weekly podcast is made with Christian men in mind who want to be better husbands, fathers, & followers of Jesus. Subscribe to that here.
- I have several books and courses for Christian men that you can check out here: Quit Porn For Good, Let's Talk About SEX!, Better Man, & Training For Change, and more.
- Join our exclusive, online Fight Club for Christian men only. Click here to learn more and apply if you're interested.
