Keep Looking at Jesus

Today I will once again talk about peace here from Saint Augustine. If you're a Believer, you can have peace no matter what's going on around you. If you're watching this and you're not a Believer, you'll never have peace until Jesus becomes your savior. As a Believer, I must work at peace; it's not automatic. I know that even the upright can get up tight.

If you're up tight, this is for you. Today we're going to look at two sections of scripture, one from the Old Testament and one from the new. We begin with a very familiar story. Jesus and the disciples had just finished feeding the crowd of 5 000 with Five Loaves and two fish. Things were winding down, and this is where we pick up our story.

I'll read from Matthew chapter 14, beginning with verse 22. "Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side while he was dismissing the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up to the mountains by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. So early in the morning Jesus came walking towards them on the sea."

"And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified." Scripture tells us they said, "It's a ghost," and they cried in fear. "Immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, 'Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.' Peter answered Jesus and said, 'Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.' Jesus said, 'Come on.'"

"SO Peter got out of the boat and started walking on the water, and he came towards Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and he began to sink. Peter Cried Out, 'Lord, save me.' And immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, 'You of little faith, why did you doubt?' When they got into the boat, the wind ceased, and those in the boat worshiped him, saying, 'Truly you are the son of God.'"

I chose this story to begin with because I think we can all relate. At times we may feel like we are sinking. This world can get us down. This story shows us clearly the problem and the answer. It shows us a way to sink or to Rise Above It All.

Peter teaches us a great lesson. If you recall, Peter was a fisherman before he became a disciple. If you know fishermen, they love to tell stories, and I hope one day to hear Peter himself tell this one. He had to be thrilled to be walking on the water, and then wamo, Peter took his eyes off Jesus and he began to sink.

This is an important lesson: to avoid sinking, look to Jesus and keep looking at Jesus. Peter only sank when he stopped looking. He looked at the trouble around him. You know, if you're watching the news more than you're reading God's word, you'll sing. Keep your eyes on Jesus and you'll be fine.

Corey ten Boom, who lived in difficult times in a Nazi concentration camp, said this about her experience: "If you look at the world, you'll be distressed. If you look within, you'll be depressed. If you look at Christ, you will be at rest." Wise words. This world is distressing. Look to Jesus and there'll be rest and peace in spite of the storms.

In the Old Testament book of Isaiah, I want to look at just one verse. It's verse 3 of chapter 26. There we are told, "You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind has stayed on you, because he trusted you." Those few words say an awful lot. God is the power here, not us.

Only God can give us peace, not just any peace. We're told perfect peace. The literal translation is peace peace; in Hebrew it's shalom shalom. God will do this for you. There's one condition, however: you must keep your mind on him. Keep your mind on him.

In 1959 Lou shikun was 19, and he was a very accomplished pianist. Lou was an accomplished concert pianist in China. During the cultural revolution, he was in prison for refusing to renounce the music of the West. In prison he was beaten, and he sat in a tiny cell for six years away from a piano.

Richard Nixon was trying to build relations with China, and Lou was let out of prison as a propaganda move, and he was ordered in 1973 to perform in Peking with the Philadelphia Orchestra. Now remember, he'd not touched a piano in six years. To everyone's surprise, he played flawlessly. How could he do that? They asked him.

He said in prison he practiced piano every day in his cell, in his mind. In his mind. Our minds are that powerful. We can worry ourselves sick, or we can trust God and have perfect peace. Keep your eyes on Jesus.

"May the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Pray with me. Father God, we thank you for our minds, and we pray that we would use them in trusting you and having and choosing peace. Help us to keep our eyes on you, not the storms of this world.

This world will not last, but you will, and the peace that we find through you will last forever. Help us to have it today and from now on. In the name of Jesus I pray, amen. God bless.