Grace Baptist Church

  • Home
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • Meeting Times
    • Location
    • History
    • Leadership
  • Sermons
    • Sermons by Series
    • Sermons by Date
  • Blog
  • Connect
  • Home
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • Meeting Times
    • Location
    • History
    • Leadership
  • Sermons
    • Sermons by Series
    • Sermons by Date
  • Blog
  • Connect

BLOG

A Matter of Attention

5/19/2014

0 Comments

 
Well, Spring is here and summer is on the way. (At least I think it is.) And guess what else is here. Less, shorter, lower, tighter, more, smaller. If you want to know the nouns that go with the adjectives: material, shorts & skirts, tops, clothes, skin, bathing suits. And I've probably already upset someone. But I think it's important to talk about. There is MUCH that could be said, but I want to focus here on attention.

Dads: your wife and daughters need attention. The right kind. From you. They need your love and affection and care and provision and leadership and protection. It has to start with the men. We live in a society where the definition of marriage is apparently up for grabs, many dads are absentee, some kids don't even know who their father is, some fathers are workaholics and fail to spend time with their kids and wife, and other dads are around but don't know or just don't care about how to treat their wife and daughters. Is it any wonder in a society full of father failure that girls are looking for attention somewhere else? Well, no; that's not a surprise. So how do they get that attention?

Culture says and shows that to dress a certain way (see paragraph 1) brings attention. Never mind that it's the wrong kind of attention. Never mind that it comes from guys who would like to use your body for a night and then be done with you. Never mind that the kind of attention that comes - lustful, temporary, selfish - is the opposite of the kind of attention a father should give - truly loving, permanent, and selfless. Never mind that the a faithful father's attention is a reflection of that of Christ: selfless, never-failing love that is concerned for the well being of the object of that attention. But guess what. Culture is right. You'll get attention. Sadly, we notice.

But guys, let's not pretend like we have the moral high ground. The way a woman dresses is no excuse to give this kind of attention to her. Every lingering glance at the woman that just walked by reinforces the wrong kind of attention getting. Every lust induced search for trash online contributes to an industry that promotes the wrong kind of attention getting and giving. Look a girl in the eyes; show concern for her heart, her well-being; have a real conversation with her. Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church (gave himself up for her; not used her for his own desires). 

And ladies. Which kind of attention do you want? If you have a dad or a husband who has loved you well, praise God and be content! If you want easy, selfish attention, understand what kind of guys will give you that attention. It's not the kind of guy who will show you true, lasting, selfless love and affection. He's potentially your worst nightmare. But girls, don't give up hope: "...let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious." (1 Peter 3:4) By God's grace put some of that on when you get up in the morning. And even if no man has ever paid you the right kind of attention; even if you don't have a dad or he's distant, there is a heavenly Father paying attention to you. He is mighty to save. Does he have your attention?

It is increasingly rare in our world to be seeking and giving the right kind of attention. Will we be part of the problem or solution?
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    When I quote Scripture In this blog, unless otherwise indicated, the quotations are usually from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway. Used by permission.

    ​All rights reserved.

    Archives

    August 2021
    March 2021
    October 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    March 2019
    October 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    February 2018
    October 2017
    August 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    September 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    January 2016
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    January 2013
    November 2012
    October 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

About

​Who We Are
Meeting Times
Location
History
​Staff
Sermons

By Series
​By Date
Connect

Email our Pastor

Copyright ©2021 Grace Baptist Church. All Rights Reserved.