Keep your eyes on Him - Daily Devotional July 13th 2009

Daily Bible Reading Plan - 1 Samuel 26-27, Jeremiah 3, Matthew 14

Keep your eyes on Him (Matthew 14:28-33)

The other day I was playing a game called "Life, Twists and Turns". It is such a fun game because you never know what card you are going to draw and how things are really going to turn out until the end of the game. As we were playing I thought to myself, "man this is alot like real life".

You see, in life you never know what the next day is going to hold for you. We can have our ideas and make our plans but if you have lived enough life you know that things do not always go as planned. The economy could change, a loved one could pass away or a close friend could leave you. All of these things can be trying as they come against you like the storm that is coming against those in Matthew 14.

As we observe this story there is one key that I see that can keep us from being effected by the twists and turns that life brings our way. That key is, keep our eyes on Jesus. The Bible says in Hebrews 12:2 that we are to look "unto Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross...". We must keep our eyes on the One (Jesus) who has weathered every storm, gone through every twist and turn and paved a way for us to travel.

In today's passage we see a man named Peter who is in the middle of a storm being told by Jesus to come out of the boat and walk towards Him. Peter gets out of the boat and begins to walk towards Jesus. As Peter is walking the Bible says in verse 30 that he looked and saw all the waves that the wind was creating and he became afraid. In other words, Peter took his eyes off of Jesus and when he did, his focus became the circumstances and situations around him. This then caused fear and he sank. Jesus was right there and stretched out His hand of mercy and grace and pulled Peter back up.

You and I are alot like Peter at times. We are heading through life and twists and turns come our way and although we might not know what is coming unlike the game, we have Jesus who does know. It is during those twists and turns that we must realize that as long as we keep our eyes on Jesus not only do we not see the storms or the effects of them but we are untouched by them. It is when we begin to let our eyes wonder to the left and the right that we then begin to see the storms and feel the pressures and effects of those storms. Proverbs 4:25-27 remind us of this same principle. We must keep our eyes straight ahead of us and focus on Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.

What storms are happening in your life right now. If you can see them then your eyes are not fixed on Jesus. If you can't see them then keep your eyes on Him and experience the greatness of God. Today is a great day He is a great God and He has great things in store for you and me as we keep our eyes on Him.

Tomorrows Bible Reading - 1 Samuel 28, Jeremiah 4, Matthew 15