If you’re facing tough times — and sooner or later we ALL face tough times — there’s one sure way to get through them. It adds strength EVERY TIME it’s tried.
Our verse today is simple, yet powerful and profound, and I want to jump right in and begin unpacking it.
THINK ABOUT THE THINGS OF HEAVEN, NOT THE THINGS OF EARTH
The bible teaches us that we have been created by God to walk out specific works that God prepared beforehand so that you and I could walk in them. To see them, you need to be “looking up” so to speak. Eyes on the Lord, looking for His direction. Surrounding yourself with His people, folks who can help you develop the specific gifts He created in you. Looking to the future, most especially looking to the future that God has created for you to walk in, is often the most encouraging viewpoint one can take. In other words, LOOKING UP towards Him who called you.
THINK ABOUT THE THINGS OF HEAVEN, and then set out to take hold of them.
Don’t use “I’m too young” as an excuse. David, the youngest brother among eight, was overlooked by everyone as unimportant. Everyone, that is, except God. He knew what He had built into the young shepherd boy. Faithfulness, gentleness, the ability to be strong, a willingness for self-sacrifice. These were the qualities God wanted in the king. His age was of little concern to God, his heart was what mattered. David had learned to look up.
Neither can you use the excuse “I’m too old.” Moses was 80 years old when he saw the burning bush and received the call of God to lead His people out of bondage. Moreover, he led the nation of Israel for forty years. He learned to listen and obey, he learned to follow so he could lead well. He learned to look up.
Forget about the excuse that you’re not good enough. Neither these two men nor any of the others we read about in scripture fulfilled their call perfectly. Not even close. David succumbed to adultery, and then had the husband of the woman he slept with murdered. Moses got so angry with the people of Israel in the desert that his invitation to enter the Holy Land was lost, and he was only allowed to look upon it from across the Jordan River.
Neither you nor I will do it perfectly either, by the way. We are frail followers at best. And the most courageous of us on the outside battle our fears on the inside. We all have times we want to throw in the towel and call it quits. But THAT is precisely when we need to LOOK UP.
THINK ABOUT THE THINGS OF HEAVEN, NOT THE THINGS OF EARTH
LOOK UP and set your mind on things above.
LOOK UP and think about the things of heaven.
LOOK UP and seek the strength that God has for you.
Don’t look down and become dejected. Nor look around and become distracted. Don’t look within yourself to see if you have all the strength, wisdom and training to do what you’ve been called to do.
KEEP LOOKING UP. Follow Him who is leading you. He will bring you where He wants you to be. God has created you to walk in good works that He created for YOU to do. Not your neighbor, nor your Bishop. YOU.
He will equip you. He will put His gifts in you. He will train you. And then He will use you to advance His Kingdom. And it will be wonderful.
So KEEP LOOKING UP.
THINK ABOUT THE THINGS OF HEAVEN, NOT THE THINGS OF EARTH
