Pleasing God, Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

Developing Spiritual Eyesight

HEBREWS 12:1-3 – Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

THEME OF THE DAY. DEVELOPING SPIRITUAL EYESIGHT. The most important discipline a Christian must develop is “spiritual” eyesight to keep one’s gaze on the Lord Jesus; or to be able to keep today’s scripture ever before us – “looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith.” And there are multiple reasons why we must seek to have this daily experience of seeing everything through Jesus. Here are at least three . . .

If we look to people, not Jesus, we will find ourselves disappointed. People fail us. We fail people. In all human relationships, disappointment is inevitable. There is no perfect human relationship in this world. That means no perfect family with perfect children. That means no perfect marriage with perfect husbands and wives. That means no perfect church with perfect Christians. And what often happens is we may actually expect there to be “perfect” relationships. We would never verbally say so, but is it not true? Do people fail us? Yes. Do people disappoint us? Yes. Do even our brothers and sisters in the our churches hurt us? Yes. Do people leave families and churches over people failing to meet our expectations and desires? Yes. And what does that reveal about us? We place “perfect” and unrealistic expectations on people and when they don’t meet them, we become disappointed, and sadly, rupture or abandonment of the relationships occur. But if we have the “spiritual eyesight” to look through fallen people to Jesus, we will not allow these Christ-dishonoring fractures in our relationships. We will remember we are sinners, all of us, and people disappoint people.

If we look to our circumstances, and not Jesus in our circumstances, we will find ourselves discouraged. Let’s face it. Many circumstances in life are confusing, perplexing, and simply don’t make sense . . . if we keep our eyes on them. And by doing so, we will be discouraged. Yet, with the “spiritual eyesight” to see them through Jesus, then we will not only know Romans 8:28, but live Romans 8:28 with joy and encouragement – “And we know that all things work together for good to them who love God.” Not some circumstances but all circumstances work for good and we will be encouraged in those circumstances, even the confusing and perplexing ones, if we see them through Jesus.

Finally, if we look at our suffering, and not to Jesus in our suffering, we will find ourselves complaining in our suffering. That is human nature and in the Christian, it is sin getting the upper-hand in our lives. Don’t dismiss the seriousness of complaining about anything but especially our suffering. Complaining is an affront and attack on the goodness and sovereignty of God. And complaining is serious in the eyes of the Lord. Read Numbers 11-14 to get a clear picture of how God’s people complaining brings great displeasure to Him. Yet, if we see suffering by looking at Jesus, we will be able to not only see its good purpose but actually rejoice in it. Think that is strange, to rejoice in suffering? Check this out . . . “Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name” (Acts 5:41). Why did the early church rejoice in suffering for Jesus? Because they saw their suffering through Jesus and we are to follow their example.

Truly, the most important spiritual discipline we develop is learning to keep our eyes on Jesus. By doing so, we will not be disappointed by people, be discouraged in trying circumstances, and complain when our suffering comes. And in keeping our eyes on Him, we walk in His joy and bring glory to His Name.

PRAYER: “Father, help me keep my eyes singularly focused on Your Son, the Lord Jesus.”

QUOTE: “The most important discipline to develop in the Christian life is “spiritual” eyesight to keep our gaze on Jesus.”