After detecting a threat to the nest, did you know African
killer bees will sometimes pursue their alleged victims for miles? I know, pretty scary thought, especially for
those not fond of bees (like me!), but what a testament to their determination
and perseverance. While in pursuit, I’m
sure those bees pass many distractions, like brightly colored flowers loaded
with pollen, but they remain fixated on the object of their pursuit.
When it comes to running the race God set before us, we
need to have that same determination and single-minded focus. In Hebrews 12:1-2, God says “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a
great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin
that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race
marked out for us, fixing our eyes
on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set
before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the
right hand of the throne of God.”
The word “fixing” denotes a continual looking, not an
occasional glance, but a constant gaze or abiding of our thoughts on Jesus. As we learned earlier in the week, this
“continual looking” will take great mental determination and focus, but it is
the only way we are going to be able to faithfully run the race God has marked
out for us.
Do you desire freedom from sin? Do you want to stop being so easily
distracted and weighted down by the cares and pleasures of this world? If yes, develop the habit of continually fixing
your inner eyes on Jesus.
In his book, The Pursuit of God, AW Tozer summed it up
wonderfully by saying “The man who has
struggled to purify himself and has had nothing but repeated failures will
experience real relief when he stops tinkering with his soul and looks away to
the Perfect One. While he looks at
Christ, the very things he has so long been trying to do will be getting done
within him. It will be God working in
him to will and to do.”
What are your eyes fixed on?
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