The lure of our eyes is like dancing monkeys at a circus.  Everything and anything and nothing is trying to grab our attention.  And it does.

I just woke up not too long ago and I got sucked into my phone.  I think of my day and I’m excited about some of the things I get to do but they can distract me.  I read the news online and the events of the world redirect my thinking.

The Bible says “fix” our eyes on Jesus.  And right now our eyes are darting all over the place.  So let’s read it again:

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.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart (Heb 12:1-3).

The thing with fixing our eyes is that it very intentional.  It takes effort and work.  We have to throw off the little things that hinder us.  Not only that but we have to deal with our sins, big and small, that entangle us.

Then once we have our eyes fixed, we can’t take them off of our goal even when persecution comes.  Even when the cross comes.  Even when horrific suffering comes.

More than that, we have to hold on for the loooooooon duration.  We have to endure sinful people doing terrible things.  Often.  And for years.

It’s why this scripture encourages us not to get weary or lose heart.  We get weary and lose heart when we lose our joy.  And there are joy thiefs everywhere.

I fully recognize that I am one of those whose eyes are darting around.  I need my phone with me for work and yet it is a distraction.  The matters of this world are important and yet they fill up my mind and conversations.  The projects I’m working on excite me and distract me.

Lord, bring me back, bring us all back, to where we have our blinds on.  That who we see is you, Jesus.  All day.  Every day.

Jesus.