Today’s 333 Devotional: “Gaze Fixing”

It’s not what we’re looking for, as much as it is who we’re looking at!

When Peter and John were entering the temple, a man lame from birth saw them and began asking for assistance. Peter and John then fixed their gaze upon the man, and seeing how downcast he was, said, “Look at us.” (Acts 3:4)

They then told the man they had nothing material to give him, and instead they gave him what he needed most, a healing.

“Peter said, ‘Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.” (Acts 3:6-7)

We are like this lame man, that is, we’ve been crippled by sin from the time we were conceived.

King David said, “For I was born a sinner— yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.” (Psalm 51:5)

But God’s gaze has always been fixed upon us and is telling us to lift our heads and stop looking at and living in sin. Instead, we are to look up, that is, look at Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.

“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 has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2)

And when we look up at Jesus, He’ll give us what we need the most, which may include a material blessing, but always He will heal us, heal us of our sinful condition that has crippled us, that is, He will heal us spiritually and emotionally.

So, let’s lift our heads, because our redemption is closer than we imagine. It’s just one gaze away.

“Look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.” (Luke 21:28)