November 14
Ezek 29:1-30:26 | PS 112:1-10 | Prov 27:17 | Heb 11:32-12:13
The late Keith Green wrote a song titled, "Make My Life a Prayer to You", which contains these lyrics: "Make my life a prayer to you, I wanna do what you want me to, No empty words and no white lies, No token prayers no compromise...Well I wanna thank you now For being patient with me, Oh it's so hard to see When my eyes are on me." If we wonder why our spiritual lives are often so anemic and lackluster, perhaps, as this song says, it's hard to see God when our eyes are on ourselves. When we pray, when we worship, when we engage in fellowship, when we go to church, what is it that we seek? Are we focused on what God can do for us, with our eyes focused inwardly, or are seeking what we can do for God, with our eyes focused on Him. My friend, Wellington, who recently went to be with the Lord, who was part of our home bible study, would frequently speak to others about Jesus, unashamedly, without hesitation, and one of his favorite phrases which prompted him was, "Looking unto Jesus".
With this so often being our tendency, may we read Hebrews 12:1-2, "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." Our walk is often weak because our focus is off. If we sharpen our focus, we read in 12:12-13, "Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed."
Being distracted or inwardly focused is a common problem. We need to take intentional measures such as reading when the house is quiet, perhaps before others are awake, and not when you are so tired that you are about to fall asleep. Pray without the cell phone on or near you that your communication with God will be uninterrupted. When listening to worship focus on the words rather than just humming along. When going to church, prepare your heart before entering and seek how you can bless others rather than seeking what others can do for you. Simple measures, but intentional. "Looking unto Jesus".
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: