Fixing Your Focus on the Love of God

I’ve been reading and re-reading the Gospel of John during this Lenten season. I love John’s Gospel and am enamored with the way he tells the story of Jesus.

I can almost see the look of love and admiration in John the Baptist’s eyes when he says, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).

As I’ve been meditating on those words, I realize that where we look shapes our desires. If you spend a long time scrolling Instagram, you start to desire the same beauty, status, or accomplishments of the person posting. If you spend a long time searching Amazon, you’ll surely find plenty of things you want. Where we fix our gaze determines what we long for.

This is why the writer of Hebrews urges us: “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him, he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).

As we fix our eyes on Jesus and His great love for us, insecurity is healed, anxiety is calmed, and discontentment is soothed. Author Ann Voskamp writes, “The eyes of the heart are drawn to absences.” Isn’t that the truth? Our eyes are often drawn to what we lack. But what if we fixed our gaze instead on the fullness of what we already have in Jesus?

Pause for a moment and consider:

• We are known and loved completely.
• We are forgiven and healed.
• We are promised the presence of Christ forever.
• We are promised perfect provision.
• We are promised eternal joy and love.

What more could we possibly want? The small things of this life are nothing compared to all we have in Jesus.

As we become enthralled with Jesus and His finished work on the cross, we are transformed by His love. And as a result, our hearts respond with love—because that is what Jesus desires most.

As we journey toward Easter and the celebration of Christ’s death and resurrection, consider how you might respond to His amazing love.

Maybe that means setting aside time each day to simply soak in His love.
Maybe that means beginning each morning in worship, telling Him you love Him.
Maybe that means silencing the chaos in your life so you can be more present with Jesus.

Lord, we fix our gaze on You this Lenten season. As we approach the single greatest event in history, may we fall more deeply in love with You. Help us to fix our eyes on You so that everything else fades into insignificance.

Many of you are responding to Cultivating Deeper Connections in a Lonely World, and I am so grateful. Why not order a copy for someone you know who might need encouragement in their friendships? 

This week on The Connected Mom, we’re talking with naturalist homeschooling mom, Eryn Lynum.