As we finished setting up the church's booth at the Fair, Duke Berry told me something that left me surprisingly speechless. The church thinks we are doing a good job and wants to reward me! Sounding like a bumbling fool, I searched for the right words to say thank you. I was so focused on doing a good job for the Lord and for our congregation that this had literally not crossed my mind. Paul tells the Corinthians the apostles have this type of tunnel-vision, and by extension of the Great Commission, calls Christians to the same type of laser-like focus.
Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences. We are not again commending ourselves to you but are giving you an occasion to be proud of us, so that you will have an answer for those who take pride in appearance and not in heart. For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf. -2 Corinthians 5:11-15
Out of our deep-seated, immense respect for God, Christians should be seeking to convince others not only of the necessity of recognizing Jesus as the Son of God and submitting to His authority but also the outright joy that comes from leading a life of service in God's Kingdom. As we realize just what Christ has done for us, we should respond the same way we do when our favorite team wins the championship or we see an amazing movie. We should be compelled to talk about what God has done for days on end with anyone who will listen.
It's not that we become as a horse with blinders, unaware of everything around us. We still see the enjoyable activities and people. We still see politics. We still see the hurting and destitute. We still see the users and self-absorbed. We just see them differently. They take a back seat to noticing God and His blessings. When we do notice these events and people, we see (or try to see) them as God does. This pushes us more to share with them the message that will snatch them away from Satan. After all, that's exactly what Christ did for us even before we sought peace. He laid the groundwork to repair our relationship with Him. It only cost Him the blood of His Son.
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
-Romans 5:8-11