Rhapsody of Realities - Look To Jesus - 08/07/2015

Pastor Chris

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith...(Hebrews 12:2).

The Gospel is about what Jesus already did for you and in you. He died a vicarious death for you, and was raised back to life for your justification - now you've been declared righteous. All He's asking of you now is to fix your gaze on these realities in His Word; accept what He's done. Don't look at yourself; look at Him; He's the author and "perfecter" of your faith.

If you trust in yourself, you could be overwhelmed by all your perceived shortcomings and inadequacies, but in Him, you've been made perfect. Colossians 2:10 says, "...ye are complete in Him...." You were perfected in Him the moment you were born again. Therefore, see yourself in Him; look to Him, for He's your life, your glory, excellence, wisdom, dominion, righteousness and strength! As you accept these legal realities, they become vitally resultant in your spirit.

When the Israelites were tormented by poisonous snakes in the desert, with many of them dying from the snake bites (Numbers 21:6), God commanded Moses to make a brazen serpent, and raise it on a pole. Then He said, "Whoever is bitten and looks at it will live". Moses did exactly that and told the people. Anyone who was bitten by a serpent only had to look at the serpent of brass, and as they did, they lived (Numbers 21:9).

Now, that serpent on the pole was symbolic of Christ hanging on the cross. The Bible says, "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:14-15). He's light and life personified. So, keep your focus on Him, and you'll never walk in darkness or death. Look away from every distraction, unto Him! If you've been distracted by sickness, poverty, failure, etc., look away from all of that unto Jesus, and see your prosperity, health, victory, and dominion.

The Greek expression for the phrase "looking unto Jesus" in our opening verse actually means, "Looking away unto Jesus". That means take your eyes away from everything else, and set your gaze on Him: don't turn to the left or to the right. See yourself in the light of His Word only.

PRAYER

Dear Father, thank you for the vicarious death of your Son, Jesus and His glorious resurrection which has ushered me into the divine and glorious life. I recognize and fix my gaze on the finished works of Christ; therefore, I live the transcendent life of glory, in Jesus' Name. Amen.

Further Study:

Hebrews 12:1-2 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Daily Scripture Reading

1-Year Bible Reading Plan: Acts 19:8-41,
Job 15-18

2-Year Bible Reading Plan: Luke 7:18-35,
Joshua 3-4

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