Vision Check

 Sunday's message was John chapter 3.

I was struck by a portion of it. (It was all a good message!) But there was a particular verse and portion that got me thinking:

📖 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him." John 3:14-16

Jesus was referring to the old testament;

📖 The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.Numbers 21:8-9

It was here that Bill made the comment, a bit tongue-in-cheek; "trying to imagine someone trying hard not to look!"

But it made me think...why would someone not look upon the staff if it would save them?....why would Peter take his eyes off Jesus if it meant he would sink into the stormy water?

📖“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Matthew 14:28-30

Why do WE take our eyes off Jesus when it means certain catastrophe?

Some, maybe intentionally, choose; "I don't need it", "that is for the weak", "it isn't real".

But many who do believe in Jesus and His saving grace, why do we look away?

Maybe some fill our lives with things that become more important...we lust after worldy things, we covet our neighbor's car, house, spouse, money, job etc. Sin causes our eyes to be looking the other way. 

You may be thinking "Hey, that's harsh, not everyone is lusting after something!"

And I agree, for many it is far from what we strive for in our lives.

📖 I will not look with approval on anything that is vile.  I hate what faithless people do; I will have no part in it.  Psalm 101:3

How else can we lose focus? Maybe some of us have calendars so full it blocks our view of Him.  And all of it may be good, noble things but if our busy interferes with our line of sight...

We all need a vision check....

Where are we looking?  Are we looking to Jesus every day, giving that calendar to Him? We can start with our focus on Him...and as we slug or skip through a day...we can continue to look to Him. A quiet prayer, scripture in our minds, a song may come into our heads.  If we are looking for Him, He is in us, all around us, and moving and working...just keep our eyes open and looking!

📖 I lift up my eyes to you, to you who sit enthroned in heaven. Psalm.123:1

📖 And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. Hebrews 12:1b-2

🙏Mt prayer today is that we all do a vision check and make sure our eyes are focused on Him and what He has for us.❤

📖 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33