TOPIC: KEEP YOUR EYES FIXED ON JESUS
Bible Reading: Ezra 6-8; John 21
“Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;” – Hebrews 8:1 (KJV)
In construction, every time you use the same material like a piece of wood to measure and cut another piece of wood instead of a standard measuring tape, the new piece of wood would always increase a little more. If you continue, probably after cutting ten to fifteen pieces, the last piece of wood could be almost 3-4 inches longer than the first one.
As believers, Christ Jesus is God’s measuring standard for holiness, and every time we keep adding a few human ideas, suggestions, and philosophies, we might eventually be off course. This is the reason we must keep our eyes fixed perpetually on Christ Jesus. Our text says the main point is that we have a High Priest whose name is Jesus set on the right hand of the throne of God and He is God’s standard for every believer.
The Bible says in Ephesians 4:11-12 that God gave the church the gifts of men for teaching and equipping believers, “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: It is to the measure of the fullness of Christ and not human ideologies, cultural preferences, societal opinions or even theological interpretations that God desires every believer or the church to grow.
Over the years the church has been distracted by unnecessary arguments. Apostle Paul had to tell the church in, “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.” – Colossians 2:16-17
Thank God for complete liberation through Christ Jesus! You are free from the rituals of performance and men’s philosophy. Keep your eyes on your High Priest because He is the One that qualifies you before the Father. Crave His presence and person. Learn His principles and live by them and be conscious of His power and walk victoriously. Prioritize your relationship over religious rituals that have no life. Stay connected to the very source of life who is Christ because anything that takes your focus away from life in Christ is religion.
Prayer: Thank You, Father, for the gift of Your Son Jesus Christ who has delivered me from the rituals of religion into a loving relationship with you through His sacrifice.
Pastor Alfred Samuel