[Wisdom of Solomon] Protecting Your MarriageSmakprov

Keep Your Eyes On Jesus Have you ever pondered or meditated on the idea that the Lord knows us? He truly knows us better than we know ourselves. God sees our past, present, and future. There isn’t a single thought, sin, skeleton, or deed that isn’t in His knowledge. That’s pretty sobering and, for some, scary. He knows you—your greed, selfishness, and sin—yet He still went to the cross and died for you. That truly is amazing grace! In early Christianity, there were a group of followers of Jesus known as the Desert Fathers. They escaped the world for periods to spend time with the Lord free from distractions. One day, one of the Fathers was asked about pursuing the Lord and how to please Him. That father replied, “Young man, always keep God in front of you.” Because when you do this, you won’t act the wrong way, say the wrong things, or miss the mark or path He has laid out for you. Paul tells us to set our minds on things above because what we focus on will usually end up being what shapes our lives, thoughts, and actions. In our marriages, the goal isn’t to focus on other marriages or our parents’ marriages and compare ourselves to that standard. Instead, we are to keep our eyes on how Jesus cares for His bride, the church. When we don’t keep our eyes on Jesus and keep God in front of us, we stumble. Instead of running the race before us, we waste time on things that do nothing for us. Instead of fixing our eyes on the eternal God, we fixate on things that rot, wither, and fade. The Lord knows all of our thoughts; He wants us to dwell on Him, His goodness, and His never-ending love. When we do this, our paths will be straight, our marriages will flourish, and our love for God and His desires become why we truly live. We will no longer waste the life gifted to us but instead help God move His kingdom forward. We will seek first the things of God, knowing He knows our needs before we even ask. Thought for Today: What occupies most of your thoughts?