“The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
Matthew 6:22-24 KJV
Have you ever watched someone using a laser pointer to play with a cat? They move the laser pointer all around and the cat goes running after its light. Of course, the cat never catches the light they are running after as it has no substance.
Sadly, the phenomenon of running after something that can never be caught (or if it can be caught, provides no true satisfaction) is not limited to curious cats.
Indeed, many people order their lives by following one “shiny object” after another. Yes, most things grabbing our attention, are rarely of any substantive use or benefit. Indeed, they are worthless, at best. In fact, shiny objects can lead one into destruction.
It was the springtime, the time when kings went out to battle. But instead of going out to battle, David stayed home in Jerusalem, sending Joab and the armies out to battle without him. And, staying home rather than going out to battle, would cost David dearly.
“It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch and was walking on the roof of the king's house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful. And David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, "Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?"“
2 Samuel 11:2-3 ESV
Yes, David, would have that shiny object brought to him, resulting in a pregnancy and the murder of a righteous man.
Ironically, the same David, makes a strong statement against allowing his eyes to look on what is worthless or evil (or with evil intent).
“I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me. A perverse heart shall be far from me; I will know nothing of evil.“
Psalm 101:3-4 ESV
Allowing something to divert our gaze from what is right, toward what appeals to the flesh, always ends in disaster.
Now, look around you. You’ll see people gazing at their smart phones. It’s easy to observe that they are intensely scrolling, as though hypnotized. And, whereas that per se may already be a total waste of time, people often are looking at that which is evil, unholy, provocative, definitely not expedient.
So, we may look at that cat frantically trying to catch the laser light, or marvel at people staring at an object in their hand as though their life depends on it, and see the humor in what the cat is doing, or the futility in what the phone-watchers are doing, yet, be unknowingly doing the very same thing! Truth is, when you’re stunned by something, you are drawn to it without considering the benefit or danger.
In Psalm 119 we see the psalmist requesting the ability to look away from what is worthless in order to see the things of God and the way in which he should go.
“Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.“
Psalm 119:37 ESV
Make no mistake, we gravitate toward what we are looking at. In order to go in the right direction, we must be looking in the right direction. And, in order to continue going in the right direction, we must not allow ourselves to be captured by worthless, shiny objects.
“Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.“
Proverbs 4:25-27 ESV
In our opening scripture, we see Jesus talking about the need to have a single eye. The “single” eye is one that is only looking at one thing and is seeing it clearly.
Now, the truth is, the right object on which to set our eyes, is a Person.
We’ll talk more about this tomorrow.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
In preparation for our discussion over the next several days please read and meditate on the following scriptures:
“O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot. The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Yes, I have a good inheritance. I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel; My heart also instructs me in the night seasons. I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope. For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.“
Psalms 16:5-11 NKJV
“As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.“
Psalms 17:15 NKJV
“”I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.“
John 17:20-24 NKJV
“For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.“
II Corinthians 4:6 NKJV
“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.“
Hebrews 12:1-2 NKJV
“Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.“
I John 3:2-3 NKJV
We are living in a world that seems to be coming apart at the seams. Indeed, we know that we will see more chaos and evil being manifested as the Lord’s return becomes imminent. The only way we can survive, maintaining our steadfastness in the faith, is to look to the One Who made our salvation possible.
Tomorrow we will begin our discussion on “Looking unto Jesus.”
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
“Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.“
Colossians 3:1-10 NLT
We’ve all seen the movies where the good guys, thinking they have destroyed the bad guys, are caught off guard, injured or killed, when the bad guys have somehow returned to deliver another blow.
We have been discussing the importance of carrying our own cross. We have come to understand that our cross is obedience to the will of the Father. Additionally, we have seen that the Lord has given the Holy Spirit to help us to do the will of the Father. And, today I will add, it is in the actual doing of the Lord’s will that the flesh is killed and stays dead.
“Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.“
Romans 8:12-14
We avoid the possibility of the sin nature (the desire to walk in sin) “resurrecting,” as long as we are walking in obedience to the Holy Spirit.
When we are walking in obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit of God, we remain free from the law of sin and death, free from control by the sinful nature, free to fulfill the will of God in our lives.
We must not fail to appreciate that walking in disobedience to the Holy Spirit, makes one vulnerable to again fulfilling the deeds of the flesh. And when we indulge in the deeds of the flesh (living a lifestyle of sin), we cannot inherit the Kingdom of God.
“So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses. When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.“
Galatians 5:16-25 NLT
In our opening scripture we see that walking in newness of life, requires that we focus our minds on the things of Heaven. As I have shared before, I do not believe that “you can be so heavenly-minded that you’re no earthly good.” That is never the case.
Being truly heavenly-minded is being sensitive to the voice of the Spirit of God, setting our eyes on the Lord, and not allowing ourselves to become distracted by temptation.
“God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death. So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters.“
James 1:12-16 NLT
Dear child of God, don’t allow the sin nature to sneak back in like those bad guys we were referencing earlier. Stay the course. Carry your cross. Walk in obedience to the Holy Spirit so that the sin nature stays dead (in terms of its control).
Again, daily walking in the Spirit, leads to staying free from the control of the world system, free from the desires of the flesh, free from the deception of the devil, and alive to God (able to walk in unfettered fellowship and obedience to Him).
Remember, soon, and very soon, the Lord will return; and—as the old song goes—we will “trade the old cross for a crown.”
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.“
2 Timothy 4:7-8 NLT
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!