Introduction
I was chatting last Sunday with my in-laws; they're dear people. We covered this and that, and got to discussing a particular pastor. Oh, so subtly, so delicately, I managed to allude to his struggles, perils, possible problems . . . I rattled on . . .
Suddenly I saw myself — fangs, claws, and all.
I was making sure they understood that Ray and I had never had such struggles, perils, possible problems — that we must obviously be superior . . . . I was too well-bred to say it; I only inferred it. My relatives are savvy people; they'd understand.
The Spirit stopped me cold.
My eyes weren't on Jesus, they were on my family — to make sure Ray and I looked good in their sight. That gave freedom to my "old nature" (my familiar, ugly, life-long enemy) to take control of my tongue, and there in front of all of them was my exposed heart, with all its lurking pride and jealousy.
Embarrassing! Discouraging!
I apologized, and my sweet family made light of it and of course forgave me.
But I'm always just one step from disaster, aren't you? And there's no help, no winning, unless we follow Hebrews 12:2 — fix our eyes on Jesus, one moment at a time.
Do you need this book? I do. Let's learn from it and obey what it says together.
* * * * *
Fix your eyes on Jesus as your Example, and be ashamed.
Fix your eyes on Jesus as your Savior, and be rescued.
Fix your eyes on Jesus as your Physician, and be made whole.
Fix your eyes on Jesus as your Mentor, and be taught.
Fix your eyes on Jesus as your Comforter, and be encouraged.
Fix your eyes on Jesus as your Strength, and be enabled.
Fix your eyes on Jesus as your Life, and live abundantly forever.
