What Should Fascinate Us?

Luke 10:38–42

We live in a culture that is constantly competing for our attention. From the moment we wake up until the moment we go to bed, countless voices are inviting us to focus on something. Social media demands our attention, careers compete for our energy, entertainment fills our free time, and even good responsibilities can consume our schedules. In a world filled with distractions, perhaps one of the most important questions we can ask ourselves is this: What truly fascinates us?

The answer reveals more about our spiritual condition than we may realize. Whatever captures our fascination eventually shapes our thinking, influences our decisions, and directs the course of our lives. Long before something becomes an idol in our actions, it often becomes an idol in our attention. That is why the enemy rarely asks for our worship first. He simply asks for our attention. If he can gradually redirect our focus away from Christ, he knows our hearts will often follow.

Jesus illustrated this truth beautifully in Luke 10 when He visited the home of Mary and Martha. Both women loved Him. Both desired to honor Him. Yet their responses to His presence were remarkably different. Martha immediately became busy preparing, organizing, and serving. Mary did something that appeared much less productive. She sat at Jesus' feet and listened to His words.

Luke tells us that Martha "was distracted with much serving," while Mary "sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word." Jesus did not rebuke Martha because serving was wrong. Service has always been an important part of following Christ. Instead, He gently pointed out that she had become distracted. Her activity, though good, had taken precedence over intimacy. Mary understood that before she could effectively serve Jesus, she first needed to simply be with Him.

That lesson is just as important today. It is possible to become so busy doing things for God that we neglect spending time with God. Ministry can replace intimacy if we are not careful. Church attendance can become routine. Bible reading can become another task on our checklist. Prayer can become rushed and mechanical. Somewhere along the way we can lose the wonder of simply sitting at His feet.

The Apostle Paul understood what it meant to be captivated by Christ. In Philippians 3:8 he wrote, "Indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord." Paul had every reason to boast in his accomplishments. He possessed education, influence, religious standing, and respect among his peers. Yet after encountering Jesus, everything else lost its value. Knowing Christ became his greatest treasure.

That is what genuine fascination looks like.

Paul was not consumed with building a reputation. He was not fascinated with ministry success or public recognition. His greatest desire was simply to know Jesus more deeply. Every accomplishment faded into the background compared to the privilege of walking with Christ.

Mary displayed that same heart. While others focused on responsibilities, she recognized that the greatest opportunity in the room was the presence of Jesus Himself. She chose relationship before responsibility. Before she served, she sat. Before she acted, she listened. Before she ministered, she worshiped.

There is an important lesson in that sequence. Everything we do for Christ should flow out of our relationship with Christ. Service without intimacy eventually produces burnout. Ministry without worship becomes empty. Activity without His presence leaves us spiritually exhausted.

Colossians 3:2 reminds us, "Set your minds on things above, not on things on the earth." Notice that this is a choice. Our attention naturally drifts toward temporary things. We must intentionally redirect our hearts toward eternal realities. The more we focus on Christ, the more our love for Him grows.

Grace should never make God seem ordinary. Instead, grace should leave us in greater awe of His holiness. Every morning we should remember that the Creator of heaven knows our name, has forgiven our sins, and has chosen to dwell within us through His Holy Spirit. That truth should never become common.

Mary understood this. Scripture repeatedly shows her at the feet of Jesus. Later she would again pour expensive perfume upon Him in an act of extravagant worship. Others criticized her devotion, but Jesus honored it, declaring that wherever the gospel would be preached, her story would also be told. She became known not because of her achievements but because she was fascinated with Jesus.

Whatever fascinates us will eventually disciple us.

If we become fascinated with the world, the world will shape our thinking. If we become fascinated with success, success will define our identity. But if we become fascinated with Christ, His character begins transforming ours. We gradually become more like the One we continually behold.

This leads to another important question: Where do we find our identity?

For many years I knew God had called me to preach. I loved serving Him and wanted to fulfill His purpose for my life. Yet nearly twenty years after sensing that call, the Lord began teaching me something far more important. My identity was never meant to be found in my calling. It was meant to be found in Christ Himself.

Galatians 2:20 became deeply personal: "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me." That verse changed my perspective. God was not asking me to become a better version of myself. He was inviting me to surrender so completely that His life would be expressed through mine.

Looking back, I often compare my journey to Israel's journey through the wilderness. God delivered them from Egypt, but Egypt still remained in their hearts. Although they had been set free physically, they continued thinking like slaves. They repeatedly wanted to return to what was familiar rather than trust God for what was ahead.

I discovered that the wilderness often exposes what Egypt left inside us.

There came a season when I finally stopped trying to accomplish God's purpose through my own strength. I had reached the end of my own abilities, and in that place of surrender the Lord reminded me that He had never asked me to carry the weight of my calling alone. He simply asked me to trust Him. When I came to the end of myself He said, "NOW." So many signs and wonders we have seen now when I died and He arose within me. It same for all of us.

Pride is often much more subtle than we realize. It is not only arrogance or self-promotion. Pride appears whenever we depend upon ourselves instead of depending upon God. Every time we lean upon our own understanding instead of seeking His wisdom, we subtly move away from intimacy.

The enemy understands this battle. Darkness constantly parades attractive substitutes before us, hoping something else will capture our hearts. Careers, possessions, relationships, comfort, entertainment, and personal ambitions can all become distractions if they occupy the place that belongs to Christ.

Jesus warned in Matthew 6:21, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Whatever captures our affection eventually directs our lives. We were created to worship, and if we do not intentionally worship God, we will inevitably give our hearts to something else.

The enemy knows that if he can steal our wonder, he can weaken our worship.

That is why Paul describes believers as soldiers in 2 Timothy 2:4. A soldier does not become entangled with civilian affairs because his focus remains on pleasing the one who enlisted him. Likewise, followers of Christ are called to remain focused on His mission rather than becoming consumed with temporary distractions.

Every day we should ask, "Lord, what are Your orders today?" Instead of merely asking God to bless our plans, we should seek to participate in His. When our identity becomes rooted in Christ, our purpose naturally begins flowing from that relationship.

King Josiah provides a beautiful example of this truth. In 2 Kings 22, the Book of the Law was rediscovered during repairs to the temple. When Josiah heard God's Word, he tore his clothes in repentance because he realized how far the nation had drifted from God's commands. That moment transformed his life. He became fascinated with God's purpose.

Before God sends us, He first speaks to us.

Jeremiah declared, "Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart." God's Word is not simply information to be studied; it is life to be received. The more we fill our hearts with His truth, the more clearly we understand His mission.

Jesus told His followers in Matthew 5:16, "Let your light so shine before men." What an incredible privilege that God desires to shine His light through ordinary people. Every believer has been created for a purpose. Ephesians 2:10 reminds us that we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works that He prepared beforehand.

The Kingdom of God is strongest when every believer embraces his or her assignment. Paul compares the church to a human body in 1 Corinthians 12. Every member has a function. Every gift matters. Every act of obedience contributes to the mission of Christ. No believer is insignificant.

Today there are countless people waiting to encounter the love of Jesus. Families need restoration. Addictions need to be broken. Broken hearts need healing. Communities need hope. God has uniquely positioned every believer to participate in His work.

As we look again at Mary sitting quietly at the feet of Jesus, we discover the answer to our original question. What should fascinate us?

Not fame.

Not success.

Not possessions.

Not even ministry itself.

Our greatest fascination should always be Jesus Christ.

When we become captivated by His grace, secure in our identity, and committed to His purpose, everything else begins to find its proper place. Our service flows from intimacy. Our calling flows from our identity. Our mission flows from our relationship with Him.

May we never become so busy serving that we stop sitting. May we never become so distracted by temporary things that we lose sight of eternal realities. Instead, may our hearts echo the words of Paul, counting everything else as loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus our Lord.

For whatever fascinates us today will ultimately shape who we become tomorrow.

Love Pastor Steve - www.dgimpact.org