Keeping our Eyes Fixed on Jesus

Bible reading Matthew 14:22-34 

Focus Verse: "Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water. “Yes, come,” Jesus said.  So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.” Matthew 14: 28-29

We all fall short of the Glory of God… and that’s expected.  (Rom 3:23) And and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (v 24)  This is the BEST NEWS EVER!  In our shortcomings, we look to the Lord.  David kept putting his face toward God in his pain, suffering and sin and God’s mercy and grace flowed freely.  Peter put his eyes on Jesus and walked on water, not because of who Peter was, but who our LORD is!  Mary Magdalene put her eyes on her savior and the past shame was in the depths of the ocean, never to be found.  She also put her perfume on his feet and with her face to his feet, wiped it with her hair in love, devotion and thanksgiving.  Lord, let me love you like this.  Let me keep my eyes on the Lord and my thoughts in line with His thoughts.

Helen Lemmel wrote this hymn in 1918 after reading a missionary tract from Lilias Trotter that included these words:   "Never has it been so easy to live in half a dozen harmless worlds at once – art, music, social science, games, motoring, the following of some profession, and so on. And between them we run the risk of drifting about, the good hiding the best. It is easy to find out whether our lives are focused, and if so, where the focus lies. Where do our thoughts settle when consciousness comes back in the morning? Where do they swing back when the pressure is off during the day? Dare to have it out with God, and ask Him to show you whether or not all is focused on Christ and His Glory. Turn your soul’s vision to Jesus, and look at Him, and a strange dimness will come over all that is apart from Him.”

"Turn your eyes upon Jesus

O soul, are you weary and troubled?

No light in the darkness you see?

There’s light for a look at the Savior,

And life more abundant and free!

Refrain:

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face,

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

In the light of His glory and grace.

Thro' death into life everlasting,

He passed, and we follow Him there;

O’er us sin no more hath dominion--

For more than conqu’rors we are!

His Word shall not fail you--He promised;

Believe Him, and all will be well:

Then go to a world that is dying,

His perfect salvation to tell!"

 

~Page Johnson