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Looking To Jesus, Part 2

Suppose, early one morning, you go out to sea in a small boat. The weather is great, the day is young and the water looks like sculptured blue carpet. You venture further.

As if on cue, the weather changes. Winds begin to blow, bringing clouds that block out the sun and a chill that penetrates to your bones. Waves get bigger and bigger, emerging out of the water like terrifying clones of the Loch Ness monster.

It's so foggy that you can hardly tell mist from ocean. You're not sure where to head. This has suddenly become a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

Then you see it! Barely visible at first, you still recognize and respond. Filled with relief and thankfulness, you turn your boat toward the lighthouse on the shore.

Fog still rolls over you. Waves continue to toss your craft around like a tee shirt in a clothes dryer. Your very bone marrow is still chilled. But it's okay now! With your eyes focused on the lighthouse, your hands, arms and feet automatically do what they're supposed to do. Not long thereafter, you successfully skipper your ship to the warmth and safety of the harbor.

God is our beacon. If we look to Him, we avoid shipwreck. That's the supreme lesson of Hannah, who couldn't get pregnant; of King Jehoshaphat, on the brink of disaster. It's the lesson of Mary, who sat at the feet of Jesus; and of Paul, whose life was in constant danger. It is God who makes something beautiful out of our lives. Keep looking up . . . to Him.

In this voyage of lifestyle worship, Jesus is not only our Guide, but also our Goad. He's not only our Model, but also our Mentor. He's not only our Encourager, but also our Enabler. In John 14:6, Jesus says, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

Today we conclude 70 broadcasts on lifestyle worship! Time has flown as we've explored the Scriptures, learning how to acknowledge God's worth in acceptable ways. Perhaps the best possible ending to our study is an unhurried look at some of those scriptures we've explored during this journey.

I encourage you to find a quiet place for a few moments, and allow me to give your heart and mind a shower of scripture. The following passages are drawn from our studies in lifestyle worship. They remind us that true worshipers love God sincerely, they abide in Him faithfully and they serve Him joyfully.

This collage of scripture is like a musical finale. It recapitulates, as a medley, various melodies presented earlier in the composition. My hope and prayer is that this medley of scriptures will encourage you to...

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.

From Psalm 112 - Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, Who delights greatly in His commandments. (2) His descendants will be mighty on earth; The generation of the upright will be blessed. (7) He will not be afraid of evil tidings; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.

Mark 12:28-31 .One of the scribes came, and . asked Him, "Which is the first commandment of all?" Jesus answered him, "The first of all the commandments is: 'Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. 'And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment. "And the second, like it, is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."

Ephesians 5:1-2 - Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

Romans 12:1-2 - I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Hebrews 12:28 - Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.

Also in Hebrews 12:1-2 - .Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith..

Romans 13:14 .Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

2 Chronicles 20:12 -13 Now all Judah, with their little ones, their wives, and their children, stood before the LORD. 12"O our God, we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You."

Jeremiah 9:23-24 - Thus says the LORD: "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight," says the LORD.

Romans 16:25,27 - Now to Him who is able to establish you... to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.