“FOCUS” // Winter Camp Update

Every one of us has let things get out of focus. We have looked away from THE thing that is most important to focus on other things. Our vision has blurred, causing us to bump, stumble, and fall. As a result, we have hurt ourselves and others. This is the world.

Christ entered. He met people focusing on the wrong things, causing anxiety, depression, and worse. To their sickness and death, He brought healing and life. To their rigid laws and traditions, He brought a curious grace. He truly saw those cast aside, unworthy and alone, and offered eye contact, touch, and love. It seemed like all the darkness in the world was coming undone around him.

Even Christians who know, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” lose focus. We focus on things other than THE thing. We seek the shadows and try to adjust our eyes in a world as if there was no True Light.

It is time to fix our eyes on THE thing instead of other “things.” This winter camp, we are looking at one verse, Matthew 6:33, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Like someone taking a long, hard look at something precious, we will flip it over and view it from several angles.

Christ told us, “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then, in his joy, he sells all he has and buys that field.” Christ loves you and me so much that he was willing to die to buy the field we were buried in and bring us back to life. Then He turns, looks at you and me, and says, “Do you see me? What am I worth to you? Are you willing to sell everything and seek me first?”

By the end of the weekend, we want students to embrace a counter-cultural life that invests in the Lord’s Kingdom rather than their own. During week one of winter camp, about 15% of our students made first-time decisions to focus their lives on Christ! Please pray that this winter, students will continue to choose to focus their lives on THE thing over any other thing.

But seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness,

and all these other things will be added unto you.

-Matthew 6:33