Fix Your Eyes, Pour Your Jar (Pt 3 of Living a Beautiful Life)
Welcome to Part 3 of “Living a Beautiful Life,” a journey through longing, transformation, and surrender. In this final reflection, we explore what it means to live poured out.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, we must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us, keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set out for him he endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. Think of him who endured such opposition against himself by sinners, so that you may not grow weary in your souls and give up.Hebrews 12:1-3
Hebrews 12:1-3
We are called to “run with endurance.” We’re called to finish this race. We’re called to walk with and by the Spirit. But we cannot do this on our own or in our own strength. We have to keep our eyes on Jesus and get rid of anything that tries to drag us away from Him. Jesus Himself even gave a very sober warning on this matter.
Life in Christ
If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away! It is better to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into hell. If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away! It is better to lose one of your members than to have your whole body go into hell.
Matthew 5:29-30
Now, Jesus was not literally telling us to cut off our hands or cut out our eyes, but it gives a serious mind picture to ponder. The reason we ponder this is because Christ is the Life! He wants us to realize deep in our hearts just how deadly sin is, so we understand how hopeless we are without Him. It is only because of the grace of God that we are enabled to live above sin, that we can live a beautiful life!
We are set free to walk in freedom and live as God intended. When we accept Christ, we accept His Lordship over our lives. In all areas. In Matthew 16, Jesus talks about HIs Lordship.
…You are a stumbling block to me because you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but on man’s.” Then Jesus said to His disciples,” If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it but whoever loses his life because of me will find it. For what does it benefit a person if he gains the whole world but forfeits his life? Or what can a person give in exchange for his life?
Matthew 16:23b-27
Trusting the King Who Provides
Another aspect of His Lordship, that cultivates a beautiful life is found in Matthew 6:25-34.
Look at the birds in the sky: They do not sow, or reap, or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you more valuable than they are?…Think about how the flowers of the field grow; they do not work or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these! And if this is how God clothes the wild grass, which is here today and tomorrow is tossed into the fire to heat the oven, won’t he clothe you even more, you people of little faith?…For the unconverted pursue these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Matthew 5:26, 28-30, 32-33
The aspect in this passage I want to look at is that God cares for us! As His daughters, we are cared for! We can trust Him to provide for all our needs. We don’t need to worry or be anxious, we can rest in the fact He knows what we need and will grant it. But first of all, we are called to pursue His kingdom and His righteousness, He is to be our first priority!
A verse that concludes this Bible essay is in Matthew 26:6-13 that is very poignant as women of God.
Now while Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of expensive perfumed oil, and she poured it on his head as he was at the table.
Matthew 26:6-7
I truly hope that you have been encouraged to pour your “jar” out, whatever and wherever it may be.
