SUNDAY May 3, 2026
Keep Your Eyes on Jesus
...looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith....
Hebrews 12:2
Have you ever watched an Olympic race where the lead runner became distracted by the competitor next to them? Instead of keeping his attention, effort, and focus on getting across the finish line, for just one second, he turned his head to see how close he was to the runner next to him, and ended up losing the race. That one second of distraction cost him the race.
It is only when we get distracted and take our eyes off Jesus that we get ourselves into trouble. There was an occasion when the disciple Peter took his eyes off of Jesus. At Peter’s request, do you remember when Jesus told him to get out of the boat and walk on water? The sea was tumultuous, the waves were enormous, and Peter did well when he kept his eyes on the Lord; but the moment he became distracted by the storm and the waves, he began to sink. He had taken his eyes off the One who could save him (Matthew 14:31).
On another occasion, Peter again took his eyes off Jesus and placed them on John the beloved. The Lord predicted Peter’s death, saying: “...when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God (John 21:18-19). After Jesus spoke these things, He told Peter, “Follow Me.” Peter said: “But Lord, what about this man?” He referred to John. Jesus replied: “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me” (John: 21:22).
What an important lesson! Will you keep your eyes on Jesus and not on other people? How many Christians do you know who have stumbled because they placed their eyes on a leader who fell into sin, or had a misunderstanding. Listen, if you take your eyes off Jesus, you may be in danger of quitting the race altogether. People fail us; they are not perfect, but Jesus is! He is the Author and Finisher of our great faith!
God grant, if we must have two eyes ... [there must be] one eye of faith wholly fixed on Christ, the other, the eye of obedience ... wholly fixed on the same objective.
~C.H. Spurgeon~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
