LOOK UP: OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL, 29TH OCTOBER 2018

MEMORISE:
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. John 15:5

READ: Hebrews 12:1-3
1.Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

2.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.

3.For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

MESSAGE :
To look to Jesus means to rely on Him for help and to see Him as our example. He is our forerunner who has triumphantly gone through whatever we are passing through now, he knew the purpose of His coming into the world, and He stayed true to that purpose till it was fulfilled. 

Therefore, in the midst of trials and temptations, you only need to look up to Jesus and walk in the steps that He left for us to follow.

To look to Jesus is to look away from every other thing and focus on him alone. Naturally, when you look up, it becomes impossible to see your surroundings at the same time. 

For this reason, your focus shifts from your surrounding and settles on the things above alone. So, to look up to Jesus means that no matter how fierce the storm is raging in your present situation, you must look away from it and fix your gaze only on Jesus Christ.

The good thing is that it is only then that solutions will come and peace will be given to calm the raging storm. If you don’t believe me, ask Peter. When he had his eyes set on Jesus, he was walking on the stormy sea, but the moment he looked at his surroundings, he began to sink (Matthew 14:28-31). 

Matthew 14:30 says: “But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.”

You will not sink in Jesus’ Name.
To look to man is a fruitless effort. A person can only raise you as far as his or her hands can reach, and each person’s reach is limited. Also, someone can be in a position of authority today and be out of it tomorrow and so what happens to you if you have been looking up to that person? In the little time that I have spent on earth, I have come to discover that the only person you can trust totally is God. 

He is the one who never fails, has no limits and can never be dethroned.

Finally, to look up to Jesus is to focus on our destination and our reward. We are sojourners here on earth, only passing through on our way to our eternal home. If Heaven is your final destination, then it is only wise that you focus on The Way to that destination.

The Bible says that He sits at the right hand of God’s throne. That is our finish line, and that is where your gaze should be permanently fixed.

ACTION POINT:
Keep your gaze fixed on Jesus, no matter what.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 
Jeremiah 29-30, Luke 12:35-56

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 2: I NEED THEE EVERY HOUR
1. I need Thee every hour,
Most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine
Can peace afford.

Refrain:
I need Thee, oh, I need Thee;
Every hour I need Thee;
Oh, bless me now, my Savior,
I come to Thee.

2. I need Thee every hour,
Stay Thou nearby;
Temptations lose their pow’r
When Thou art nigh.

3. I need Thee every hour,
In joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide,
Or life is vain.

4. I need Thee every hour;
Teach me Thy will;
And Thy rich promises
In me fulfill.

5. I need Thee every hour,
Most Holy One;
Oh, make me Thine indeed,
Thou blessed Son.