Fix your eyes on Jesus

Jesus' resurrection makes all the difference in your personal life. That's where everything changes! 1. Because of His resurrection He offers you His presence. In His earthly body Jesus could only be in one place at one time (Luke 10:1). But in His resurrection body -- On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them (John 20:19). When I'm finished speaking somewhere I can easily worry, "Did I come across too bossy? Did I come across to unfeeling and hard-nosed? Did I put anybody down? Did I offend? Did I intimidate? Did I act like the big know-it-all?" and so on, and so on -- and I agonize. My eyes are on myself. But because our Jesus is risen and omnipresent, I can say, "Refocus my eyes on You, Lord. I committed this all to You before I began. I believe you took charge, and that You covered all my humanness that would have distracted from You." And I put that session in my two hands and surrender it to Him again. And He is near (Philippians 4:5), and He comforts me. At His birth He was given two names, "Jesus" (Matthew 1:21) and "Immanuel" (Matthew 1:22-23). "Jesus" means "Savior," and He was called that all His earthly life. But "Immanuel" means "God with us," and it's more appropriate now than ever. Standing on the mountain in His resurrection body, ready to go back to heaven, Jesus said something He'd never said before: "I will be with you always" (Matthew 28:20). He is with you right now, as you read this. Fix your eyes on Him. The light of Christ surrounds you. The love of Christ enfolds you. The power of Christ protects you. The presence of Christ watches over you. Wherever you are, Christ is. 2. Because of His resurrection He offers you His peace. Said the newly risen Christ, "Peace be with you!" (John 20:19-20). Shalom, the Hebrew word for it, means wholeness, health, well-being, not only outside but inside. Christ is here, it's okay. In the midst of your problems, it's okay. Peace. And when Jesus said "Shalom" -- or "salaam" -- He wasn't just saying, "Hi, have a nice day" -- He was bestowing His peace. Will you believe that? Will you discipline your heart to take what He offers? Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee (Isaiah 26:3, KJV -- or "whose eyes are fixed on You"!). Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way (2 Thessalonians 3:16). 3. Because of His resurrection He offers you His purpose. One of the first things He said in His resurrection body was this: As the Father has sent me, I am sending you (John 20:21). A brand new principle was suddenly at work! Back in His earthly life He'd often say, "Now, don't tell anyone about Me" (Mark 1:34, 43; 3:12; 5:43; 7:36; 8:30; and so on). From our side of the resurrection, that seems absolutely strange. But when Christ exploded out of that grave, all His followers exploded into action. "Go!" He said, "Tell! Be My witnesses to the ends of the earth!" (Matthew 28:19; Acts 1:8). The resurrection not only changed Him, it changed them. Boy, did they go! Apparently only one of the Twelve died in their homeland. They went everywhere, "and preached the word wherever they went" (Acts 8:4). Acts is the book of action. His new purpose was now their new purpose. His new life was their new life. They were now in Him, and He was now in them. Jesus' resurrection -- it meant everything! He's risen; He's alive! Fix your eyes on Him: What's He telling you to do? Go for it. 4. Because of His resurrection He offers you His power. I can't tell you how the fact of Jesus Christ's power encourages me and motivates me. When I speak or write, there's no strength in me to do it on my own. How could there be? -- Hey, when I interact with my children or go on a date with Ray, there's no strength in me to do it on my own! I'd bungle into arguing or getting critical of someone, or I might be just dull and boring. In myself, I wouldn't have the words to bless or lift or even be fun. Let me give you here a very important truth for your living: Your weaknesses -- totally acknowledged and continually realized -- give you your only claim and access to His resurrection power. I've been a Christian since I was about six years old, and I don't think I'm any stronger now than when I was six. And it's all right with me. Are you weak? The Lord doesn't take that weakness away. He says, "My power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9). And Paul's response to this was, Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest upon me . . . When I am weak, then I am strong (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). Don't be concerned or embarrassed over your weaknesses. Don't try to forget them or hide them or pray to conquer them or be freed from them. Jesus doesn't make you stronger. The risen Lord said, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you" (Acts 1:8). It's His power only; it always has been, always will be. He doesn't lessen your weaknesses and add a little of His strength the way I blend a glass of iced tea. Your total weakness and His total strength are to coexist side by side. We have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us (2 Corinthians 4:7). In all your struggles and temptations, fix your eyes on the resurrected Jesus! Let the only measure of your expectations for yourself be the power of Jesus Christ. Then you can live a truly powerful life -- not because you're no longer weak, but because, being weak, you count on His power to work in you. We had company for dinner the other night, and the two lamps flanking the couch wouldn't go on. Oh, well . . . But after our friends had left, Ray investigated and found the plug in the wall socket was sort of sagging out and had lost its connection. Never mind your weaknesses; just make sure you're solidly connected, strongly "abiding in Him." Then expect the power of His resurrection to work in your life. With that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit." (John 20:22). Right now, sit loose in your chair. Breathe out -- I'm doing it, too -- as if expelling your lack of confidence in His abilities on your behalf. Now prayerfully breathe in, in a sense, a fresh filling of His Holy Spirit. Breathe in new expectations of His victories in your life. Fix your eyes on Jesus. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prayer: O wonderful Lord Jesus Christ of the empty tomb, I receive anew Your presence. I receive anew Your peace. I receive anew Your purpose. I receive anew Your power. In Your own dear name, amen. * * * * * "Look to the Lord and his strength" (Psalm 105:4). Looking at Jesus will infuse your life with power. Looking much at Jesus will infuse your life with much power. Looking continually at Jesus will infuse your life with continual power.