maintaining our focus in our pursuit of Him

In our pursuit of God, we must always keep our eyes focused on Him. It is imperative that we look to Him in all things and at all times. Galatians 2:12 is a good example of the importance of maintaining our gaze upon God and His sovereignty and His holiness.

In the passage of scripture, Peter had begun to isolate himself from the Gentiles for fear of defilement. He had taken his eyes off of Jesus and allowed them to instead settle on the Jews and their laws. He became something that he wasn't and proceeded to 'play the middle' to keep both sides appeased. He had unknowingly become entrenched deep into the confines of hypocrisy. When we allow the world to become our focus instead of Christ, we can quickly join the hypocrisy club.  When this happens to us, we lose our witness. We lose our effectiveness and become subject to rebuke just like Peter did with Paul.

Peter was good at taking his eyes off of Jesus. And it always got him into trouble. You will recall in Matthew's gospel when Jesus was walking on the water and He beckoned to Peter in the boat. Peter stepped out of the boat and began to walk on water. He was able to do this because he had fixed his eyes on Jesus. But the instant that Peter lost his focus and took his eyes off of our Savior, the distraction of the world set in and he began to sink. The winds and the waves blew him off course and he faltered and fell.

As we pursue a deeper, closer walk with Christ, we must keep our eyes focused hard on Jesus. Let Him be our leader and our guide. Keep our gazed locked intently onto His. If we follow solely after Him, He will lead us carefully by the hand, down the correct path. He will never fail us. He will never forsake us. He will never, ever leave us alone. 

"As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus

the Lord, so walk ye in Him"

(Colossians 2:6)