Readings for today: Psalms 34-38, Acts 21:37-23:11
One of my favorite verses is Hebrews 12:2 - “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” I believe it is the key to the Christian life. It is the pathway to all of God’s promises. Imagine a life filled with unspeakable joy, peace that passes all understanding, amazing grace, and unconditional love. All of that is accessed in Christ and through Christ. It is the glorious inheritance of the people of God. These are the riches God pours out on those who place their trust in His Beloved Son.
So why do so many Christians struggle? Why do so many Christians live with anxiety, doubt, suffering, pain, heartache, disappointment, discouragement, and fear? My experience as a pastor tells me that - at least in part - it’s because we take our eyes off of Jesus or we don’t know how to fix our eyes on Him in the first place. Too many of us want it both ways. We want to love the things of this world and love Jesus. We want to secure both an earthly and eternal inheritance. We want to be great in the eyes of our peers and in the eyes of God. We want to make a name for ourselves and a name for God. We want the position or platform and the power that comes with it without suffering the passion of Jesus. The Bible calls this double-mindedness. We’re trying to live in two worlds. Our loyalties are divided between two radically different kingdoms. Our allegiances are split. Our minds and hearts confused. Our thinking warped. And it’s why so many of us live “lives of quiet desperation” or we are full of “sound and fury signifying nothing.”
So what does it mean to fix our eyes on Jesus? What does that actually look like in practice? Think of Peter walking on water. He took steps of faith outside of the boat. Outside his comfort zone. Outside his normative experience. Peter was a fisherman. He knew boats inside and out. He knew the Sea of Galilee inside and out. He knew the laws of physics. He knew people didn’t walk on water. But when he fixed his eyes on Jesus, something that was impossible became possible. Something he would never have imagined suddenly became reality. He actually stepped out on the waves and only began to sink when he started to look around and allowed doubt to creep in. Think of Paul. Paul was the Jew of Jews. He was born into the tribe of Benjamin. Circumcised according to the Law on the eighth day. Studied under one of the greatest rabbi’s of his day. Advanced beyond his age and his peers. He was a brilliant Pharisee. According to the Law of God, he was blameless. His devotion to the Law of God made him the greatest heresy hunter of his time. But when he fixed his eyes on Jesus outside the city of Damascus, everything changed. All the accomplishments of his former life turned to dust. He counted everything now as loss for the sake of knowing Christ.
I thought about these two men when I read through the Psalms assigned for today. The language is poetic. The images are striking. The words make our hearts sing when we read them. I believe that’s because they are conveying the same deep truth that the author of the Book of Hebrews is pointing us to. Simply put, the Psalmist wants us to see Jesus. Wants us to fix our eyes on Him. Wants the treasures of this earth to grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace. Listen again. Take your time. Slow down. Savor each verse and the promise it contains. Let the Spirit stir your heart use these words to change your life…
“My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad.” (Psalm 34:2)
“I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.” (Psalm 34:4)
“Those who look to the Lord are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.” (Psalm 34:5)
“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!” (Psalm 34:8)
“The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry. The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth. When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” (Psalm 34:15-19)
“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4)
“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.” (Psalm 37:5-6)
“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!” (Psalm 37:7)
“The Lord knows the days of the blameless, and their heritage will remain forever…”(Psalm 37:18)
“Wait for the Lord and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when the wicked are cut off.” (Psalm 37:34)
“The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; he is their stronghold in the time of trouble. The Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.” (Psalm 37:39-40)
Readings for tomorrow: Psalms 39-41, Acts 23:12-35