Lift up your eyes
Christ asked the question, “Why do you call me Lord, and do not do what I say?” Still as of old, he asks the question of you and me. We who do lip service to Christ our King.
Jesus tells us, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth.” But we go on vying for one another in the accumulation of the material things of this world.
Jesus tells us, “Love your enemies and do good to those who hate you.” But we can’t imagine such a thing working, whether it is in our personal lives or in international affairs. We say it’s a wonderful ideal, but it isn’t practical in the real world. So it is never tried.
Jesus tells us, “Your heavenly Father knows your needs; don’t be anxious about tomorrow.” In other words Jesus is saying don’t worry yourself sick over things you can do nothing about. And yet, the Christians I know worry just as much as those who do not wear his name.
Said the robin to the sparrow,
“I would really like to know
why those anxious human beings
rush around and worry so.”
Said the sparrow to the robin,
“Friend, I think that it must be
that they have no Heavenly Father
such as cares for you and me.”
There is an old legend which relates how centuries ago the pope of Rome had a dream in which he saw the great cathedral swaying in the wind as though it was about to topple into ruin. In anguish he burst into tears. Then, in his dream he saw a little man run up and steady the building with his hands.
The next day the pope had a visitor. He was dressed as a peasant and the pope recognized him as the little man in his dream.
“What are you going to do?”
“I am going on a great adventure,” the little man replied.
“And what is the great adventure?”
“I am going to save the church.”
“How are you going to save it?” the pope wanted to know.
Came the little man’s assured answer, “By obeying Jesus Christ.”
That little man was Francis of Assisi. He had the answer for his own day—and for ours. By obeying Jesus Christ we can change our lives, our church, and our world.
Clyde Nichols is a retired minister, having served First Christian Church in Temple for 27 years as senior minister. He is the author of three books of devotionals and writes a religious column for several Texas newspapers, including The Reporter.
“This is the victory that overcomes the world—our faith.” (I John 5:4)
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