Turn your eyes upon Jesus

Liberal, conservative, left, right, Republican, Democrat...brothers and sister in Christ. That last identifier - THAT'S all that matters.

I have been so grieved seeing and hearing the vicious, venomous words that are being thrown among believers and followers of Jesus, and this should not be! In John 13, Jesus shows us how we are to love one another...serve one another, wash one another's feet, walk humbly with each other. We are to love one another in such an amazing way that the world will look at us and wonder how our hearts can be knit together in such ways! "...let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:16) What is the world seeing in us, Christ-followers, when we speak words of division and hatred; are we bringing glory to our Father, or are we acting like ones who have no hope in this life, forgetting that we are only passing through here...forgetting that we need to turn our eyes upon Jesus! Jesus said, "...out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things...for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." (Matthew 12:34-37) Let us never think that just because something isn't spoken out loud it doesn't pour forth from our hearts! Remembers, dear brothers and sisters, murder and treachery begin in the heart and mind! What idols are we erecting in our hearts that eclipse the self-denying, self-dying that Christ has called us to? Have storms and tumult caused us to remove our gaze from Him and give us license to devour one another? 

Let us walk with wisdom and love in these very challenging days; the kingdoms of this world will rise and fall by the decree of Almighty God, but our faith must not been in those things. If He calls us home to Himself today, how will we answer for our cutting and divisive words? (And know for certain that we WILL answer for them). When we turn our eyes upon Jesus and look full in His wonderful face, then the things of this earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.

Psalm 39:4-5 "Lord, make me to know my end and what is the measure of my days, that I may know how frail I am. Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths and my age is as nothing before You; certainly every man at his best state is but a vapor."