All through Christmas we have been focused on the reason for Christmas and that is Jesus. Christmas is over and we are looking at the new year.
Let's keep our focus on the Lord.
Having your eyes on the Lord. Your eyes of understanding. Ephesians 1:17-19 "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,"
The wise men had their eyes on Jesus as they followed the star. Matthew 2:1,2 "Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him."
Paul's traveling brothers had their focus on Jesus. Colossians 4:14, Philemon verse 24, & 1 Timothy 1:2 "Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you. - Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers. - Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord."
Think about when your eyes of understanding were opened. And when your eyes of understanding of the meaning of Christmas. When you called upon the name of the Lord and was saved. Or have you done what the Bible says in John 1:12 "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:"
How easy it is to lose our focus on Jesus.
The wise men lost their focus when they got to Jerusalem. They relied upon their own understanding that a king was born so they went to where they thought a king would be. Proverbs 3:5 "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding." They were following God and his star, then they looked to man, and after being set back on track they were back following the star again, which they could have stayed following. Matthew 2:9 "When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was."
Demas took his focus off Jesus. 2 Timothy 4:10 "For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia."
But Timothy kept his focus on Jesus. 1 Timothy 6:20 "O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:"
How do we keep our focus on Jesus?
1. Hide his word in your heart. Psalm 119:11 "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee."
2. Gird up the loins of your mind. 1 Peter 1:13 "Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;"
3. Think on Good things. Philippians 4:8,9 "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you."
4. It takes sacrifice. Romans 12:1 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."
