Pastor's Ponderings, March 30, 2020

Let Us See Jesus

What are you looking at?  What draws your attention?  What can you spend hours gazing at?  For some of us it is our loved ones, for others it is their prized possessions.  Still others would continually contemplate philosophical concepts while others would focus on how to enrich their bank accounts.

In the Bible, a few worshippers came to Phillip, one of Jesus’ disciples, with a poignant request. They said, “Sir, we would like to see Jesus” (John 12:20, 21). Any of the disciples may have been able to help them, but they wanted to only see the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. In the book of Psalms, King David asked for only one thing of the Lord and that was to live in God’s house, look at His beauty and to seek Him (Psalm 27:4).  God wants us to first seek His kingdom and His righteousness and then we can get everything we need according to His will (Matthew 6:33).  

When we are considering personal and national challenges, we must be certain that Jesus is the reason for our life seasons.  We cannot be distracted from looking to the One who began and perfects our faith (Hebrews 12:2). He is the answer to every question and the solution for all of our problems.  He knows everything about us from our beginning to our end (Psalm 139:16).  As we go through life, He promised that if we focus on Him, He will give us perfect peace (Isaiah 26:3). Let us see Jesus in whatever we do. 

John 12:20, 21
New International Version (NIV)

20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival.

21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.”

Psalm 27:4
New International Version (NIV)

4 One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.

Matthew 6:33
New International Version (NIV)

33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Hebrews 12:2
New International Version (NIV)

2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God

Psalm 139:16
New International Version (NIV)

16 Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

Isaiah 26:3
King James Version (KJV)

3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.