EYES FIXED ON THE BALL

“Keep your eye on the ball” is a saying that we usually hear in the sport of baseball, but it resonates when we think of the amazing 2014 World Cup performance of the USA soccer team’s goalie, Tim Howard.  He had sixteen saves in the knockout round match against Belgium, something that has not happened in the past forty-eight years, since 1966.  Howard did this consistently throughout the entire game from beginning to end.  The explosion of popular response includes his new nickname, US Secretary of Defense.  His achievement affirms the importance of keeping your eyes fixed on the ball.

The Bible says something similar, but far more important.  We are to keep our eyes on Jesus as the pattern to be followed.  In the letter to the Hebrews (12:2), we read, “Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to end.”  From beginning to end for us includes from our initial salvation from sin forward to the “unfolding of Christ’s own character in the life of the believer,” holiness. (Frederick Coutts, The Splendor of Holiness, p. 26)

By looking to Jesus

Like him we shall be,

Our friends in our conduct

His likeness shall see.

O God who reveals yourself most clearly through your Son, Jesus, we yearn for your grace to ever keep our eyes fixed on Christ believing that from beginning to end we shall be like him in ever-increasing measure.  We seek to be filled to the measure of your fullness as you seek to indwell our hearts and lives.  Amen.