#55 KEEP YOUR EYES ON JESUS 8-29-26
Maybe we shouldn’t worry so much about what is behind us or what is ahead of us that we fail to see what is distracting us right now. We can become so occupied with yesterday, so concerned about tomorrow, or so consumed with what everyone else is doing that we lose sight of the One who matters most. The Christian life is not complicated at its center. Look to Jesus. Follow Jesus. Stay with Jesus.
Paul told Timothy, “Preach the word!” (2 Timothy 4:2) The answer to a distracted generation is still the Word of God. We do not need to invent a new message. We need to proclaim the old message with fresh conviction. We need to open the Scriptures, point people to Christ, and remind ourselves that heaven and earth will pass away, but the words of Christ will never pass away. (Matthew 24:35)
Preach the Word when people listen, and preach it when they do not. Preach it when you are applauded, and preach it when you are criticized. Preach it when the work seems fruitful, and preach it when you wonder whether anyone is paying attention. Our responsibility is not to control the results. Our responsibility is to be faithful to the message God has entrusted to us. “Be ready in season and out of season.” (2 Timothy 4:2)
And while you preach the Word, look to Jesus.
The writer of Hebrews tells us to run the race “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.” (Hebrews 12:2) There will always be something trying to take our eyes away from Him. People will disappoint us. Churches will disappoint us. Friends will disappoint us. Sometimes even our own hearts will disappoint us. But Jesus remains faithful.
If you keep staring at people, you will eventually become discouraged.
If you keep staring at yourself, you will eventually become either proud or defeated.
If you keep staring at your circumstances, you will eventually become afraid.
Look to Jesus.
He is still Lord.
He is still faithful.
He is still worthy.
He is still enough.
Walk with God.
Enoch walked with God. (Genesis 5:24) That simple statement may be one of the most beautiful descriptions ever given of a man’s life. He walked with God. He did not merely know about God. He did not merely speak about God. He walked with God.
That is what God wants from us.
Walk with Him when the road is easy.
Walk with Him when the road is hard.
Walk with Him when you understand what He is doing.
Walk with Him when you do not understand.
There is something precious about fellowship with God that cannot be replaced by activity for God. We can become so busy working for Christ that we forget to walk with Christ. We can become so busy talking about Him that we neglect talking to Him.
The Christian life is not simply doing things for God.
It is living with God.
And as you walk with God, do not spend your life looking backward.
There is a proper place for yesterday. Look back long enough to learn, but not long enough to live there.
Remember your failures so that you do not repeat them. Remember God’s faithfulness so that you do not doubt Him. Remember where you came from so that you remain grateful for where God has brought you.
But do not build your house in yesterday.
“Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.” (Philippians 3:13)
Some people are prisoners of their past because they cannot forget their failures.
Others are prisoners of their past because they cannot forget their victories.
Both can become distractions.
Yesterday had its purpose, but yesterday is gone.
You cannot change it.
You cannot relive it.
You cannot repair every mistake you made.
But you can surrender it to God and walk faithfully today.
The devil would love to keep you staring at what you used to be.
Jesus is calling you to become what He wants you to be.
So stay focused on Christ.
There will always be another controversy.
Another criticism.
Another disappointment.
Another temptation.
Another distraction.
Another voice telling you to look somewhere else.
But keep your eyes on Jesus.
Peter learned how quickly we can lose our focus. As long as he kept his eyes on Jesus, he walked on the water. When he began looking at the wind and the waves, he began to sink. (Matthew 14:28–31)
The wind did not suddenly become more powerful.
The waves did not suddenly become more dangerous.
Peter simply took his eyes off Jesus.
There is a lesson there for all of us.
Sometimes the circumstances have not changed as much as our focus has changed.
Look to Jesus.
Walk with God.
Preach the Word.
Learn from yesterday.
Live faithfully today.
Trust God with tomorrow.
And whatever happens around you, do not lose sight of Christ.
He is the center of our faith, the source of our strength, the object of our worship, and the hope of our future.
The world may change.
People may change.
Circumstances may change.
But Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)
So keep walking.
Keep preaching.
Keep believing.
Keep praying.
Keep looking.
And above everything else, keep your eyes on Jesus.
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Father, help us to keep our eyes upon Jesus. When we are tempted to live in the past, teach us to learn from it without becoming prisoners of it. When we are distracted by people and circumstances, turn our eyes back toward Christ. Help us to walk with You in daily fellowship and to remain faithful to Your Word. Give us courage to preach the truth, humility to learn from our failures, gratitude for Your faithfulness, and faith to trust You with tomorrow. May Christ remain the center of our hearts, our message, and our lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
BDD
