UNPACK This...Focusing on the One Who Came to Bring Us VictorySample

Dropped Passes And Christmas

Throughout the season, I watch a lot of football and greatly respect how tough playing at the highest level must be. However, I'm still amazed when an NFL player drops a wide-open pass – especially when it goes right through his hands.

So why do players drop passes?

Ultimately, it comes down to a need for more focus. Players might shift attention to the end zone, worry too much about the defense, or start thinking about their own glory before even making the catch.

Even the best wide receivers must remember the simple saying, "Keep your eyes on the ball."

When it comes to our lives, we can also get distracted and lose focus on what's most important. When we shift our attention away from Jesus by dwelling on the wrong things, worrying too much, or thinking about our own glory, we can also start dropping the ball.

The Christmas season is like a wide-open catch. You'd assume that thinking about Jesus would be easy, but for some reason, we allow distractions to shift our focus to everything else.

I love Christmas movies, songs, eggnog, cookies, traditions, and gifts, but unfortunately, I can inadvertently focus on those things instead of pondering the truth of Jesus coming to earth.

If we aren't intentionally "keeping our eyes on the ball," we can miss the entire point of what this season is about.

Hebrews 12:2 explains where our eyes need to be: "Looking only at Jesus, the originator and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Colossians 3:2 further tells us to "Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth."

This year, I hope we enjoy the Christmas season while focusing on the One who came to us so that we may have salvation, true life, joy, and hope in Him.

I'm Bryce Johnson, and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You so much for sending Your Son to earth to redeem me and give me eternal life. I admit to getting caught up in the wrong things, but I pray You give me the strength to fix my eyes on Jesus. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen.