My husband was out of town last week so I mowed the grass. Try as I might, my mowing job is never as neat and tidy as his. When I asked what his trick is, the veteran farmer in him said, "Don't look at where you are. Look at where you're going." He picks a landmark on the horizon and, with his eyes fixed ahead, his lines are clean and his path is straight.
The same is true in our Christian walk. It's so easy to get distracted by the here and now, moving right and left to tackle the nearest obstacle instead of looking to Jesus, the "author and perfecter of our faith." He wasn't distracted by His suffering, loved ones, mocking, jeering, or surroundings. Instead, "for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:2).
That is how we can "lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and... run with endurance the race that is set before us": by "fixing our eyes on Jesus."
Today, let's not just get the job done. Let's determine, by God's grace, to live each day with clean, straight paths of dependence on our Author and Finisher.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
It will be healing to your body
And refreshment to your bones.
Honor the Lord from your wealth
And from the first of all your produce;
So your barns will be filled with plenty
And your vats will overflow with new wine.
My son, do not reject the discipline of the Lord
Or loathe His reproof,
For whom the Lord loves He reproves,
Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.
How blessed is the man who finds wisdom
And the man who gains understanding.
For her profit is better than the profit of silver
And her gain better than fine gold.
She is more precious than jewels;
And nothing you desire compares with her.
Long life is in her right hand;
In her left hand are riches and honor.
Her ways are pleasant ways
And all her paths are peace.
She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her,
And happy are all who hold her fast.
The Lord by wisdom founded the earth,
By understanding He established the heavens.
By His knowledge the deeps were broken up
And the skies drip with dew.
My son, let them not vanish from your sight;
Keep sound wisdom and discretion,
So they will be life to your soul
And adornment to your neck.
Then you will walk in your way securely
And your foot will not stumble.
When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
Do not be afraid of sudden fear
Nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes;
For the Lord will be your confidence
And will keep your foot from being caught. (Proverbs 3:5-26)
The same is true in our Christian walk. It's so easy to get distracted by the here and now, moving right and left to tackle the nearest obstacle instead of looking to Jesus, the "author and perfecter of our faith." He wasn't distracted by His suffering, loved ones, mocking, jeering, or surroundings. Instead, "for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:2).
That is how we can "lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and... run with endurance the race that is set before us": by "fixing our eyes on Jesus."
Today, let's not just get the job done. Let's determine, by God's grace, to live each day with clean, straight paths of dependence on our Author and Finisher.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
It will be healing to your body
And refreshment to your bones.
Honor the Lord from your wealth
And from the first of all your produce;
So your barns will be filled with plenty
And your vats will overflow with new wine.
My son, do not reject the discipline of the Lord
Or loathe His reproof,
For whom the Lord loves He reproves,
Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.
How blessed is the man who finds wisdom
And the man who gains understanding.
For her profit is better than the profit of silver
And her gain better than fine gold.
She is more precious than jewels;
And nothing you desire compares with her.
Long life is in her right hand;
In her left hand are riches and honor.
Her ways are pleasant ways
And all her paths are peace.
She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her,
And happy are all who hold her fast.
The Lord by wisdom founded the earth,
By understanding He established the heavens.
By His knowledge the deeps were broken up
And the skies drip with dew.
My son, let them not vanish from your sight;
Keep sound wisdom and discretion,
So they will be life to your soul
And adornment to your neck.
Then you will walk in your way securely
And your foot will not stumble.
When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
Do not be afraid of sudden fear
Nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes;
For the Lord will be your confidence
And will keep your foot from being caught. (Proverbs 3:5-26)
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