I valued the friendship of a retired pastor who mentored me for several years. He often discussed his search for God’s peace and direction. He tried everything, but it wasn’t until he focused on Jesus that he found what he was looking for. In the final years of his ministry his preaching was all about Jesus.
Many voices clamor for our allegiance. We must make the decision to “fix our eyes on Jesus.” This means not allowing what hinders our walk with Him to take precedence. Through our spiritual eyes, we look beyond this world to focus on and pursue Christ.
Paul writes, “Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith” (Colossians 2:6.7). To be rooted is to be anchored and nourished for growth and stability. With roots that go deep in Jesus, we’ll stand against evil and not lose heart doing so. But even if we only come to Jesus later in life, we are grafted into His kindness, supported by the root who is Jesus Christ Himself (see Romans 11:11-24).