Focus on Jesus

UV 3644/10000. Focus on Jesus But when he saw ( the effects of ) the wind, he was frightened, and he began to sink, and he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Matthew 14 v 30 As long as Peter had faith in Jesus, as long as he fixed his focus on Jesus and His words, he could walk on water. The moment he took his gaze off Jesus, the moment he doubted the word of Jesus that he could walk on water, he began to sink. It was natural for Peter to fear, after seeing, feeling and experiencing the fierce winds that made the waves rise. He experienced the fear of death. But, when Jesus held his hand, Likewise, we are able to “walk on water” implying that we can experience many wonders or miracles in our lives that are beyond rational explanation. We are able to do so only as long as we focus on Jesus. Jesus is the locus or the center of the circle of our existence on which we depend. Hence, Paul wrote, “Fix your eyes on the author and the finisher of your faith..” He is the one who begins or the alpha of our faith and of our lives. He is also the finisher or the omega, the last letter, the last word of our faith and of our lives. Finisher also has the meaning of guarantor. Someone has quipped that “None of us will come out of life alive.” Jesus guarantees that we will come out of life alive. When we see, feel, experience turbulence, we should reach out to Jesus. When we want to experience the supernatural, a miracle, we should not trust our own senses or reasoning or past experience. Even when we show signs of weakness or doubt, Jesus is there to reach out His hand and save us even as He reached out and saved Peter from sinking in the water. When circumstances are overwhelming and we are threatened, scared, nervous or fearful, we only need to cry out to Jesus, “Lord, save me.” We rely not on our reason, our senses, our intellect or our abilities but we rely on Jesus as Author and Finisher. He who is the author of our lives is also author of our faith. We are the temple of God to which He comes. We cannot go to Him for He is holy, infinite Spirit. A building like a temple needs first the structure to be built and then it is embellished or finished well, worthy to be a house of God. Jesus not only builds the structure but He completes or finishes the temple. Like Peter we should not let our attention be captured by the effects of our circumstances. Our faith cannot be shaken by the winds of circumstances as we are rooted in the grace of the Lord. In good times or bad times, we fix our focus on Jesus. The enemy tries to distract us and make us loose the focus while the Holy Spirit enables us to continually focus on the Word. Focussing on the author implies trusting in the power and authority of Jesus. Focussing on the finisher implies we have faith that Jesus will ultimately help and save us in any situation. We will begin well, endure and finish well when we continually focus on Jesus as the ultimate and immediate center of power, authority, ability, grace and mercy.