Focus On Him – Rhapsody Of Realities TeeVo Devotional May 11th

(Keep Your Gaze On Jesus Christ)

TO THE BIBLE: Colossians 3:1-2 NIV
“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

LET’S TALK
Claudia had received Christ, and her excitement knew no bounds as everyone could tell that something new had happened to her. In a week’s time, her care group leader took notice that she was no longer excited about her new life.

When he inquired, she said, “Sir, when I got born again, I thought I had become perfect and wouldn’t lie anymore. I was able to tell the truth from last week’s Sunday up until Friday. But yesterday, I lied to my mom before I knew it.”

Just like Claudia, some Christians wrongly assume they can achieve perfection by their works; but Christian perfection isn’t in the perfection of our works but in the vision of Christ; you have to look at Him.

2 Corinthians 3:18 says, “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

The Word of God is the mirror of God, and Jesus is the Word made flesh. As you behold Him in the Word—through study and meditation—you’re changed from glory to glory.

For example, Colossians 3:9-10 says, “Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him.”

Notice that the reason you‘re not supposed to lie isn’t because of the command, “Thou shall not lie,” but because you’ve put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Christ: that’s what you set your gaze on.

The way to set your gaze on Him isn’t as you would a picture on the wall, but through His Word in your heart, keeping your focus on the image and vision of who you are in Him and what He’s made you.

That’s meditation; as you behold or contemplate the glory of God, you are metamorphosed; you understand what it means to be in Him and for Him to be in you. When you recognise yourself in Him, and Him in you, all the stress and struggles for perfection will be over.

Go Deeper
Romans 12:2, Hebrews 12:1-2, 2 Corinthians 3:18

Pray:
Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for your Word, which I daily receive into my heart with meekness and faith. As I meditate on it, keeping my focus on what I see in the Word, I become all that it talks about in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Daily Bible Reading
ONE YEAR
John 5:31-47, 1 Kings 7-8
TWO YEAR
1 Corinthians 7:10-24, Proverbs 7

Act:
Check out these scriptures and declare what they say about you: Psalm 23, Psalm 91, and Isaiah 60.