Seeing Jesus

Tigran The Great, King of Armenia, was taken captive by a conquering Roman army.  The defeated king, along with wife and all his children, was brought before the Roman general, Pomprey, expecting to be executed.  Tigran threw himself on his knees before the conqueror and pleaded for the lives of his family.  He said to the victorious Roman: “Take me and do anything you like with me, but spare my wife and children.”  His appeal so moved the general that he set the entire family free.
 
As they journeyed away from the Roman headquarters, Tigran turned to his wife sitting by his side, and said, “What did you think of the Roman general, Pompey?
 
She replied, “I never saw him.”
 
Tigran exclaimed, “You never saw him!  You were standing in his presence.  Where were your eyes?”
 
With tears in her eyes she answered, they were fixed upon the one who was willing to die for me.  I saw no one else.”
 
You and I may often find ourselves in difficult and dangerous situations.  We often tend to be distracted by fear and worry.  We get our eyes focused on the problems and struggles of everyday life, and we forget just how much God cares about us.
 
The writer of Hebrews says it well, “Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12: 1-2 NKJV).  When we fix our eyes on Jesus and realize that He was willing to go to the cross for us, our petty little issues pale by comparison.  Who cares what the world thinks?  Why worry about the trivial stuff we may have to deal with today?  We are loved by one who was willing to die for us.
Sing the little chorus with me ...
“Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face.
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.
 
Have a great week!
Pastor Barry