Fix Your Eyes on Jesus – Bad Girls of the Bible
Our guest speaker, Pastor Christine Sweeney, did an amazing job wrapping up our Bad Girls of the Bible series. The lyrics from Donna Summer’s song keep going off in my head, “Bad girls … Talkin’ ‘bout baaa-aaad girls, yeah.”
During the series, we’ve discussed several bad girls from the Bible:
- Eve, who became so focused on the one thing God told her she couldn’t have, that she forgot about all of his blessings and provisions.
- Jezebel, who was self-centered and would do anything to get what she wanted.
- Delilah, who was a master manipulator and betrayed Samson for money.
- Lot’s wife, who was so paralyzed in her past, that she missed out on the great future God was offering her.
It is really easy for me to look at the four women and shake my head in disgust. Unfortunately, I have to admit I have committed the same sins numerous times. I have been ungrateful, disobedient, self centered, manipulative, and stuck in the past.
In other words, at times I have made a real mess of my life and sinned greatly against God. So have you. We all have. I am ashamed to admit at times I have focused on what I think is best for me, instead of what God knows is best for me.
How do we change?
We keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and remember how much he loves us and all he has done for us.
Christine ended this amazing series by focusing on this verse from Hebrews:
Hebrews 12:2 NIV
Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross …
We fix our eyes on Jesus. We realize that even though we have sinned against him, disobeyed him, and hurt him deeply, he still deeply loves us. He loves us so much that he left the magnificence of heaven to save us. He came down to earth, became a man to endure all that we endure, and yet, he never sinned. He suffered the agony and pain of the cross and rose from the dead to reconnect with God. We focus on all he has done for us. We know in our hearts he wants what is best for us, and we believe he is our Savior. We keep our eyes fixed on Jesus at all times, trusting his plan, obeying him, and praising him.
Questions:
How do you respond when things are not going the way you want? Which of the Bad Girls’ behavior do you struggle most with? Have you accepted Jesus as your Savior? If not, why?
Next Steps:
Spend some time daily thanking God for all he has done for you. Pray, ask him for wisdom when you are struggling, and obey him. Surrender your past to him, looking forward to his glorious plan.
Prayer:
Jesus, I am so overwhelmed by how much you love me. You are such an awesome God. You left the majesty of heaven and came to this earth as a servant to save me and reconnect me with God. I cannot imagine all the agony you must have suffered on the cross. Help me to trust that you have an amazing plan for my life, and give me the wisdom and desire to obey you. Remind me of all your blessings and provisions. Help me to always keep my eyes fixed on you, the pioneer and perfecter of my faith. Amen.
This post was written by Marsha Raymond. Marsha has been happily married to her husband, Jeff, for 30 years. They have two grown sassy and fearless daughters. She loves spending time with God, her family and friends, reading, riding bicycles, yoga and walking.
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