Faithfully Focused

Hebrews 12:2 – Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (NIV)

At the 428 Gospel Club in Glasgow, where I gave my heart to Jesus in 1977, we used to finish the Wednesday night meetings by singing an old hymn. It was called "Turn your eyes upon Jesus", and each time we sang it, all of us at the club pictured that glorious day when we would all be with Jesus.

Most of us were young people who had been hurt by the world or had a made a mess with our lives. I was in the latter category, but no matter what we each had experienced, we all shared a longing to be at one with Jesus. He was the One Who gave our lives meaning. He was the One we could absolutely depend upon. He was the One Who saved us from despair, depression, and dissipation.

The hymn was written by Helen Lemmel, the daughter of a Methodist minister, who lived in England until the age of twelve. It was at that time that her family immigrated to the United States. Helen was a wonderful singer, a vocal music teacher, as well as the music critic for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. She wrote the lyrics and the music for the song in 1922 for the British Sunday School Union, in response to a gospel tract that she had read, called "Focussed". Helen lived all her days in Seattle, until she died at the age of 98, and she had the great joy of knowing that her song had touched the hearts and changed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people around the world.

Perhaps we're currently going through some troubles or situations that we're worried about. Perhaps we're tired and weary through stress and busy-ness. Perhaps we're anxious about the future and need some sort of guiding light to help. We need to focus on Jesus. He won't let us down, and He won't let us go.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, sometimes the world obscures us from seeing You. Sometimes our worries overwhelm our spirits, and our cares tear us apart. In those fearful and anxious moments, grant us Your peace and cause us to look to You, and at You. Calmly remind us that one day all of these things which appear so important and pressing upon us now will eventually fade away. Keep us focused upon You today. In Your holy name, we faithfully pray. Amen.

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