FOCUS ON JESUS
By Bishop Mike Okonkwo
Monday 16th January 2023
“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” – Hebrews 12:2 (KJV)
Today, we are surrounded by different events with the capacity to distract us from following Him who not only called us but paid the full price for our redemption. Child of God, your redemption is eternal – nothing can be added to it, and nothing can be removed from it. Jesus has obtained eternal redemption for you; it is not temporary. It did not stop when you made a mistake. It is eternal and that’s what your focus should be.
When you are told to focus, it is because there are distractions around. There are many seemingly valid reasons to be distracted, but beloved, no one gets to the destination looking around. So, you must be intentional to focus on your goal. The rumblings, the storms, and the challenges around you are enough to distract you, but you must refuse to be distracted.
Learn from Jesus, His focus was on the outcome not on the issues around Him. He looked at the joy set before Him, so He could endure the cross, the shame, and the beatings and still stand strong. He knew you were worth the price. So, He suffered it all so that today, you can be called His own.
Learn from Peter’s experience with Jesus when he walked on water. For as long as Peter set his eyes on Jesus, he walked on water. He accomplished the supernatural. The storm was still raging, yet he accomplished the supernatural and walked on water because he put his eyes on Jesus. What does that mean? He set his eyes on the Master, and not on the thing happening around him. When he took his eyes off the Master, he started to sink.
“But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.” (Matthew 14:30 KJV)
Unlike Peter, stay glued to the Master, and refuse to look at the boisterous wind. Stay focused and you will succeed.
Further reading: Matthew 14:22-33; Hebrews 9:11-15
Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Gen 38,39,40/ Evening- Mathew 11