Eyes on Jesus!

Last night at Prayer Meeting we sang, “Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus.”  “Look full in His wonderful face; and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace!”

I was reminded that God’s call to us daily is – “Eyes on Jesus!”

A few weeks ago I sent you a musing starting with Micah 7:1, “Woe is me” and then giving the antidote for such a time being found in Micah 7:7, “I will look to the LORD, I will wait for the God of my salvation; My God will hear me.”  I’m returning to Micah 7:7 with another musing.

But first, we have been thinking, talking, and chanting “Eyes on Jesus” often over the past months. (This likely started when we were back in Job and using the song “In the Eye of the Storm” by Ryan Stevenson and Feat Gabereal.)

Why eyes on Jesus?  Because storms, losses, pain, rejections, evil, fog, attacks, chaos, conflicts and death have been numerous these days – some upon individuals, some on families, and some on groups.

When Peter found Himself in the hurl of a storm, He learned, and we should learn, that the hope and the help is found fully and solely in Jesus!  Peter was fine as long as his eyes were on Jesus but the wind, waves, water in the face, lack of stars for bearing, and the howling wind caught his attention and redirected his eyes.  When he saw and thought on the storm, he began to sink – like a rock!  HELP!  HELP!!  HELP!!!

And from the boat over the howl might have been heard eleven or more screaming: “Eyes on Jesus!”  (Those in the boat reflect the ministry we should have as Christians in the lives of others – saved and non-saved – when the storm is drawing them down!  Screaming and repeating, “Eyes on Jesus!”) When Peter refocused his attention back to Jesus – Voila (Wa-lah!) – rescue, safety and peace!

So why Micah 7:7 again?  Because I see “Eyes on Jesus” three times in this verse!

The first “Eyes on Jesus” is to look to God.  I think this call points us to the Bible.  God has revealed over and over His concern, His involvement and His power in the affairs of men.  Consider the Jesus who cried in a cemetery, groaned over sins, touched lepers, stilled storms and healed many. And because He is the same as yesterday (Hebrews 13:8), unchanging (James 1:17), and fully keeps His word (Matthew 5:18); we can draw hope by looking to God.

The second “Eyes on Jesus” is to wait on Him which is to trust Him.  Why trust the Lord?  Because He has repeatedly been true to the Bible, His promises, and His character.  Jesus did what He said – He would die, be buried and rise in three days – and it happened precisely!  And today Jesus is seated with authority and ruling (Hebrews 1:1-3).  Jesus is about our good even in storms and about His greatness in our storm.  Trust Him.

The third “Eyes on Jesus” is that Jesus invites our prayers.  He hears our cries and He is moved by them (James 5:16).  Prayers carry weight so call out to Him (I Timothy 2:5).  When He has impressed upon you His answer which might be “Wait” or it will remain (II Corinthians 12:8), only then be still before Him.

So here is the call from God to us and what should be the call from us to others:  three times!

Eyes on Jesus!  Eyes on Jesus!!  Eyes on Jesus!!!