by Pastor Douglas Brauner

Keeping Our Eyes Fixed on Jesus

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

I been dealing with Vestibular Neuritis since August 10. It’s a condition where a virus attacks the nerve of your inner ear and causes vertigo. The vertigo left not long after the attack, but I’ve been left with balance issues.

Walking through physical therapy has been beneficial, and significant progress has been made. Part of my therapy involves moving my eyes between two objects like these two benches. The goal is to keep the objects in focus as my eyes move from one to the other. You will understand what my therapy is like if you look at one of these benches, keep your head turned toward that bench but at the same time move your eyes to the other bench, then, lastly, move your head to that bench (I know, confusing. It’s been that way for me too).

It is hard for me to keep my focus as I do this exercise for 1.5 minutes.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” 
Hebrews 12:1-2 English Standard Version

The key to running the race of life is not losing our focus.

The writer of Hebrews points us to the people who finished their lives keeping their focus on the promises of God. Noah, Abraham, and Moses kept their focus on the promises of God as they lived by their faith in these promises.

It’s easy to lose that focus and feel like we’re dealing with vertigo as we make our journey through life. Yet, you and I have an antidote for this problem in Jesus Christ who kept his eyes focused on the cross and the empty tomb fulfilling all of God’s promises for us.

May our eyes remain focused on him.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado