Set or See?

“My eyes are fixed on you, O Sovereign Lord.”  Psalm 141:8

 I faced a dilemma last Sunday during communion.  Our family sits close to the front (very close, my girls would say!), so after retrieving my little cup from the tray, I had a long time to wait until I drank it.  Sadly, never at loss for sins to confess and, gladly, never lacking blessings for which to be grateful, I decided to pass the time in prayer but quickly discovered that if I closed my eyes, I wobbled my juice.  So I just sat there looking at it.  Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed my husband setting his down in the handy-dandy holder attached to the adjacent pew, leaving his hands free from wobble and worry.  When it came to the cup, I soon realized I had two options to avoid a spill:   stare at it or set it down.

In truth, that choice confronts us daily, not just the first Sunday of the month.  We continuously face various circumstances where we must decide to either keep the cross as our focus or find what we consider a more comfortable or convenient solution.  Though there is surely nothing wrong with setting down your cup during communion, setting aside the sacrifice which it symbolizes, even for a moment, brings devastation, difficulty, and lost opportunity. 

Set aside the cross when you’re frustrated, and your angry words will wound someone’s spirit.  Set aside the cross when you’re mistreated, and your “getting even” gets ugly.  Set aside the cross when you’re tempted, and your desire quickly escalates to doing.  Set aside the cross when you’re busy, and your schedule becomes more important than God’s agenda.  Set aside the cross when you’re grieving, and your heart will have no hope.

Only by keeping our eyes on Jesus can we avoid the spills in our lives which make big messes.  Focusing on our mighty God and His amazing grace never means that nothing bad will happen, but a continued concentration on Christ causes us to know and trust God’s character more fully.  We realize that He sovereignly works all things—even tough things— together for our good, whether on earth or in eternity.

We might think that taking a hands-off approach to the cross leaves us worry and wobble free, but, in truth, keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus is the only way to live stable and sure.

Don’t set down what you should always see.

Even for a moment.