29th April 2023

Eyes on Jesus

We’ve just come through the most worshipful season on the Christian calendar. Now what? Is it possible to maintain the level of awareness of the events of Jesus’ life and the focused devotion we experienced during the weeks of Easter preparation? It’s entirely possible and it’s more important than ever due to the constant subtle and not-so-subtle attacks on the Christian way of life and values. 

Frank Laubach was an American missionary who realized he had not been making enough of an effort to live minute-by-minute with an awareness of God and practicing his presence. He said, “We shall not become like Christ until we give him more time.” He noted that a lawyer couldn’t become competent if he spent only ten minutes a week studying. Neither can we become like Jesus unless we do as he invited his disciples to do: “Come with me, walk with me, talk and listen to me, work and rest with me, eat and sleep with me, twenty-four hours a day for three years” (The Game With Minutes, Frank Laubach). They spent 168 hours a week with him! 

We won’t come close to that, but Laubach challenged himself to play The Game with Minutes, where he tried to direct his thoughts to God once each minute, to keep up a running conversation with him during every activity and every interaction, and to change his self-talk into prayer. Keeping him in the forefront of our minds, through the strength of the Holy Spirit, produces in us “an abiding faith which gently presses the will toward Christ all day.”

If we play the “game” with serious determination, we’ll soon see it’s no game but a way to deeper friendship and intimacy with our Savior. To win the game with minutes, all it takes is effort and concentration, perseverance and surrender. And best of all, there are no losers – we can all attain a greater awareness and deeper relationship with Jesus, as we keep our eyes fixed on him (Hebrews 12:2).

Study by Tammy Tkach

 First published on 11 April 2023, at www.gemsofgodsgrace.wordpress.com

 

About the writer:
Tammy Tkach is the Assistant Pastor of the Eugene, Oregon, USA congregation. She is a speaker and writer, and publishes a blog at www.gemsofgodsgrace.wordpress.com  

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