Mark 12-- Hitting a Fastball

When a baseball batter faces a pitcher throwing a 96 miles per hour fast ball, he has to maintain extreme focus if he is going to have any chance at hitting the ball. He has to be able to react in seconds, based on what the ball is doing and not on what is being shouted in the stands behind him. Having this kind of focus is a good lesson for life, and it is something we see in the life of Christ. We learn from Christ the importance of cutting through the fog to see the main thing and focus on real issues. Mark 12 is a masterful example of this as Jesus responded to questions, posed questions of His own, and highlighted key actions of others both through story and real-life examples. Jesus used a parable about a vineyard owner who rents out the land only to have the renters kill his servants and eventually his son. Jesus used this to show that the real issue of the day then (and now) was the rejection of Christ. When asked about paying taxes, marriage after the resurrection or which is the greatest commandment, Jesus cut to the heart of the issues. He was able to see through those who posed the questions and focus on root causes. Then Jesus posed His own question regarding a quote from David which attests to Christ's deity. Finally, Jesus pointed out the poor widow's gift as an example of real sacrifice. Likewise, as we deal with people, problems or just daily living, it is important to look for foundational issues. Why is this person acting this way? What is the cause of the problem, not just its symptoms? What are the two or three fundamental things I must keep before me as I live my life? By focusing our life in this way, we are able to better utilize our energies to walk in wisdom rather than chasing after things that really don't matter.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.