Fixing my eyes on Jesus

I shared with the guys last Fri about my struggles to "keep my eyes fixed on Jesus" in spite of all circumstances in my life.

What does it mean? I was drawn to Peter’s water walking feat. When he heard Jesus’ voice call him, when he obeyed and stepped out of the boat. He’s a fisherman! Surely he knows that's foolish and he’ll sink from years of experience! Yet he got out of the boat... and became the only man on earth (apart from Jesus) who actually walked on water!! Yes, he slipped when he shifted his gaze from Jesus to look at the winds. but hey, Jesus grabbed him nonetheless! Didn’t get wet or lose his wallet, mobile phone etc! ;-)

So over the span of the week, I’ve collected some thoughts, read some books and studied His word. The bible does give some insights.

Zacchaeus - a wealthy chief tax collector wanted to see who Jesus was. But he was a man of short stature, and figured he probably couldn’t see Jesus through the crowd. Then he did an incredible thing - he climbed a sycamore-fig tree to look (Luke 19). And he got more than a look - Jesus came to his home!

A rich young man (Matt 19) went up to Jesus asking how to get eternal life. "What good thing must I do?" He too saw Jesus, even conversed face to face! But there was a slight difference –his heart. Was he seeking the gift or the giver? All I know is that he went away sad.

Martha opened her home to Jesus, and she busied herself with the preparations that had to be made, e.g. cleaning up the place, prepare food and drinks etc, absolutely necessary since it must have been day time and hot when Jesus came. Yup, I would imagine if the Prime Minister of Singapore comes to my home, I’d have to do some cleaning up and drink pouring etc too!

But through this all, she must have shifted her focus from Jesus Himself and what is He interested in, to providing for what she believed were Jesus’ needs (e.g. food & drinks), or on even how messy her house is (perhaps feeling self-conscious? Or just trying to be a good host!). It must be tiring. Having gone through SAF and B-School, I fully understand the dislike for “skivers”!! So in her anguish Martha might have cried, “This is not fair! I’m doing all this work! Lord, tell her to do all these together with me, so that we can all sit down together earlier!”

How many times do we echo such thoughts? “Its not fair!” or perhaps for a partner saying “Why do you think I’m working so hard? I’m doing all this to earn more money to provide you a better life!”

Perhaps things would have been different if Martha paused, fixed her eyes on Jesus and sensed what He really wanted? It was as simple as her being by Him, her willingness to listen to him. This Mary did.

So it is as a boy fixes his gaze on the girl he likes, I should learn to fix my eyes on Jesus. And listen.

* * * * *

I was walking to buy lunch yesterday in the busyness of Raffles Place. The crowd suddenly parted to both sides like the red sea. And I saw someone in front, seated on a wheelchair, holding onto a donation tin and trying his best to get attention. But most in front of me skirted around him, continuing their quest to fill their tummies.

I stopped. Reached into my wallet and put something in the tin. Sure, it wasn’t much, but that’s the least I could do. I hope Jesus smiled, because for that split second, I had my eyes on Him :)