Grace to you and peace… from Jesus Christ the faithful witness (Revelation 1.4b-5a)

It is an incredible blessing to meet with Jesus every day. To find Him waiting for us in the stillness of quiet places. It is easy to find him there if we look. In comfort we rejoice that He is faithful to His word to be with us always. But when the world is spinning out of control like a maniacally turning whirligig, the rapid revolutions of this orb distorting the image of God (the image of God we should see in one another) we find it more difficult to search Him out of the crowd. Our heart cries for Him in the haze of jagged humanity as our eyes are blinded in a blur of color. Our overstimulated eyes cannot discern His features or find His face.

In the hard times, in the difficult and pressing seasons, are when we must learn to fix our eyes on Jesus the most. We need His solid, infinite presence as we stumble through the tragedies of this life. We must be like a class of young dancers learning to keep dizziness at bay, fixing their eyes on a single spot as they pirouette. In this erratic world Jesus is reliable. In these deceitful days Jesus is trustworthy. Jesus is the faithful witness who cuts through the visual and emotional distractions with His good news: The Kingdom of God is at Hand.

In mourning, Jesus is there weeping with those who weep. In rejoicing, Jesus can be found among the tax collectors and sinners proclaiming the love of God. In anxiety, Jesus is there with His arm around us, interceding before the Father and speaking peace to our trouble hearts. In persecution, Jesus stands before His image bearers and He reveals His nail-pierced hands and wounded side. No matter the circumstances, not matter the storm, we find grace and peace in Jesus Christ the faithful witness.

Jesus, guide my eyes through the swirling crowd and breaking waves where I can fix my eyes on you. Take your glory from my life as I receive your faithful testimony of your Father.