Two months ago, while in Moldova my teammates taught me a song called ‘Turn your eyes upon Jesus’. I thought it was a nice song and was glad the lyrics were simple enough to learn 15 minutes before we had to perform it in front of our church. The song didn’t move me to tears or change my life but for some reason I would find myself randomly singing one line from the song ‘Turn your eyes upon Jesus’. And for the past three months God has been using that concept to teach me.
God showed me how that’s the answer. Jesus is the answer. Jesus is our peace. Jesus is our example. Jesus is the way. Jesus is the truth. Jesus is the life. We have to keep our eyes on him.
Last month I was overwhelmed. I was overwhelmed with what I saw. I was overwhelmed with the need. People were hungry, children were homeless, mothers were dying, and fathers were non-existent. I was overwhelmed and I didn’t know what to do. And what could I really do? I mean we were only going to be there for three weeks. But God showed me that my eyes were on the problem and not the solution. If I had kept my eyes on Jesus I would have realized he was what these people needed most and he was what I could offer them. The need in this world is incredible and the problems that people are facing can be overwhelming IF we take our eyes off of JESUS.
“He himself is our peace” -Ephesians 2:14
He is the peace that I need in a world that is without. When we are overcome with sorrow, heartache, the needs of this world, depression, or worry, we can count of him to give us peace. God tells us not to worry and not to be anxious. He tells us to pray and to seek first his kingdom. “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” -Phil 4:7 If we are looking at Jesus then we will have peace, a peace which transcends all understanding.
Jesus is our example. It is only Jesus. No one else. We can’t compare ourselves to anyone but Jesus. We can’t look to anyone else. Why would we even want to when Jesus is the only one who did it right. He lived the life we should have lived. He was blameless. So then why do we do it? Why do we constantly compare ourselves with one another?
Well I’m not as bad as him. Or I don’t go out and get hammered all the time like her. Or I give away more than so and so. Or I don’t gossip as much as her.
Well do you want to be like the people around you or do you want to be like Christ? Why don’t we just keep our eyes on Christ? Christian means follower of Christ. Are you following the savoir or someone else?
I’ve done it. And I still find myself doing it WHEN I TAKE MY EYES OFF JESUS.
“Let us run with patience the race that is set before us; looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.” – Hebrews 12:1,2.
He alone is worthy. If you call yourself a Christian, he is the one we follow. And he is the one we must not take our eyes off.
