What a relevant word for the world in which we live today-

DISTRACTED-meanings; “Unable to concentrate because one’s mind is 

preoccupied”; “prevent someone from giving full attention to something; divert

attention from something…”

     A famous author recently wrote a book entitled, “UnDistracted”, which I have not read. 

     As the thought came to my mind of Distracted, I sensed in my spirit the 

need to expound upon that subject in my feeble, finite ability.

     It would seem apparent that to be distracted is a more common lifestyle than 

being undistracted. 

     To be undistracted takes concentration, determination, discipline, effort. To be 

undistracted in this crazy, delusional world nowadays is a job. And as is 

evidenced by statistics, there’s fewer and fewer who are seeking a job, choosing 

rather to be dependent on parents, grandparents, government assistance, 

cheating, lying, thievery and even murder. Thus, being amused holds more 

interest than musing; proving the Undistracted mindset is not in big demand.

     As the word distracted came to my mind, it was an absolute given that we are 

seeing the fruit of its demise not only in the world, but in the church as well.

We attribute busyness in working for the Lord, the Martha affect perhaps, as

more effective than respite sitting at the feet of Jesus, the Mary affect. But what 

did Jesus have to say about these 2 precious women whom He loved dearly? 

     Luke, the physician disciple, gives note of their actions. 

Luke 10:38-42 portrays Jesus visiting the house of Martha. Her sister, Mary, sits at Jesus’ feet listening to him. Martha, “distracted by her many tasks,” asks Jesus to tell Mary to help her. Jesus replies: “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41-42).

     No doubt, once Mary had gleaned from Jesus, she served alongside her sister 

Martha. But she first sought the better part.

     The noise of the world is in competition with the still small voice of God, 

whether we choose to admit it or not. 

     From the pulpit to the pew, the Americanized church lives by and large in many 

cases by the scripture which Paul used to remind the Corinthian church of its 

true objectives…

2 Cor. 10:12, “For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.”

     Why did he address it as such? Distraction. When those who deem themselves

‘above’ others who are less fortunate, it causes a rift in the body, ie, pride, envy, 

jealousy, covetousness, resentment, malice, just to name a few of the internal 

sins which distract believers from the real purpose of the body. Yes, I said it, 

SINS. And sin should be repented of, or else it grows like a root of bitterness that

eventually will thwart one’s fellowship with not only other believers, but with God

Himself. Then in turn, it can sever the relationship, thus causing a wedge to be 

driven into the heart. 

     God will allow this to happen, to see if one will choose to

draw near to Him and seek to be Undistracted by the lifestyles of the rich and 

famous, so to speak, or to be distracted and allow those distractions to affect

one’s individual life of servant hood and devotion to Him. 

Isaiah 59:1, “Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:

2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

3 For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.

4 None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.”

     You might say, “Oh, I would never become that distracted”…never say never.  

     There’re souls in hell no doubt today which would give anything to have one 

more chance to resolve distractions which cost them eternity. There’s people in 

prison. who admit distractions drove them to the brink of their destruction and 

lifelong consequences of doom. 

     Distracted? Sadly, yes, it’s an epidemic. Too much to do, too many places to go, 

too many things to see, too many people vying for our attention, our finances, our 

stamina. End results?  BURNOUT…failure in the pulpit, failure in the pew, growing

weary from trying to accomplish things many times which hold no eternal value.

     Bible Basics needs to be a mandatory subject again. Too many don’t know 

what the Bible truly teaches us. They only hear a few words the preacher says, 

then they run grab a self-help book, when Jesus plainly teaches self-denial, 

taking up our cross and following Him. 

Jesus said in Matt. 6:33, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”

     Those who follow me know when I write, I end on a positive note. No matter 

how thought provoking, penetrating or subjective my words seem in reading, 

there’s never a time when they’re not pointedly applicable to myself first. Finger 

pointing is not my forte, because I learned a long time ago when one is pointing 

at some one else, three are pointing back at the speaker. 

    So may I encourage us all to focus on becoming more Undistracted rather than 

Distracted. Don’t get caught up in the cares of this world, seeking to being 

a nobody trying to be a somebody at anybody’s expense. 

     Accountability, discipline, responsibility, are attributes of seeking to overcome

distractions.

Maranatha! 

D. S. Mullis

.copyright 2022