Who do you need to ignore?

The godly give good advice to their friends; the wicked lead them astray. Prov.12:26

 Notice that Jesus focused mainly on what was truly important in His final hours. He totally ignored the scoffing from the thief on the left. Jesus could have allowed Himself to be ruled by emotions and insulted the thief on the left. This no doubt would have altered His focus and perhaps changed the course of things. But instead, knowing what was truly important, He totally ignored him. Who and what do you need to totally ignore in your life? Some of us are spending valuable time responding to the wrong people and the wrong things. Have you been responding to the people who abuse and ridicule you; or are you responding to the people who recognize you? Have you been losing your sleep over critics or will you spend your time with people who know and love you. Jesus totally ignored the thief on the left and focused on the one on the right. Jesus more or less rewarded him for recognizing the Kingdom; ‘today you will be with Me in paradise’. ‘And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak’ Matt.12:36. Jesus could have equally responded with equally negative words to the idle words of the thief on the left but He knew that if He did, He was going to give account. People pestering you or being nasty to you is not a license to rain insults on them. Just remember you will have to give account for every idle word and every word you say will be used for or against you. Ignore the critics, go and hang out with people who celebrate you and not people who tolerate you. The reason why many of us are not fulfilling our destiny is because the people around us are just tolerating us. Jesus did not focus on that, instead He focused on salvation. Let your focus on the Kingdom blot out all other things contrary to God’s will.

Prayer: Lord, help me keep my heart and mind stayed on You. I ask that You place a guard over my heart and my mouth today.