We all walk this common ground. It’s life on a broken Earth, and we all recognize in our unique ways that this brokenness is not as it was supposed to be.
Whether you follow Jesus and believe He is the Son of God risen from the dead, as I do, or you believe in something other; we all walk through a rugged path of joy and pain. Furthermore, we all come face to face with darkness and a temptation to give up.
When the tempter comes, as he often does, to steal joy, and draw you into hopelessness; turn your eyes to Jesus. You might think He’s not there because the tempter is, but that’s not true. The truth is your eyes are on the tempter and not the Savior.
“Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’””
Matthew 4:4 NIV
I know because I face myself in this reality. I know because I’ve been tempted the last couple of weeks to give up on dreams and promises of God for my life.
My eyes have been looking at the tempter and I have been listening to the accusations. It feels like Jesus isn’t here, but I’m wrong. He’s ALWAYS with me. He will never leave me.
It’s me. I’m the problem. My sight is set in the wrong place. My focus is wrong. My hearing is tainted.
I chose this week to confess my plight of heart to a friend. She kindly painted a word picture for me of turning back toward Jesus and seeking His cleansing.
She shared a word picture of a wash basin. Not mine to share, but she encouraged me to go and wash my face. Wash my hands. Let the cleansing cover my mind and my heart.
It was then I recognized my stubborn willfulness that gave into self pity, and I had to repent. I chose to repent of my prideful grip on despair.
Jesus was tempted in the wilderness. He was and is all too familiar with the temptations we face, but His eyes were on His Father. His heart was not hard or sinfully stubborn. Jesus was yielded. He was yielded to love; the love of His Father. Out of such great love flows obedience.
Eyes on Jesus, dear reader. He’s inviting you to His table. Jesus has prepared a table for you and me right in the presence of our enemy. Let’s turn our eyes away from the tempter, which feeds our fleshly desires and leaves us sick.
Let’s turn our eyes to Jesus and accept His invitation to dine with Him. Lets cleanse our hands before we sit. Let’s break bread with the Bread of Life. Let’s sip Living Water from His cup.
He’s offering abundant life. Do you want it?
Lord, teach me Your ways that I might learn to rely on Your faithfulness. Give me an undivided heart that I might be in awe of Your name. Amen.
Eyes on Jesus and Shine!
Lisa
