“My eyes are ever toward the LORD, for He will pluck my feet out of the net.”
Psalm 25:15 ESV
“Eyes on me.”
“Eyes forward. Look at me.”
“Not on the person beside you or behind you, eyes on me.”
These and similar phrases were spoken frequently by my first-grade teacher.
“Eyes on me!”
At a time when preschool was unheard of and kindergarten was a privilege for only the well-heeled, first grade was our introduction to formal education and classroom protocol. It was a new world for all of us requiring a different standard of conduct and behavior. Our willingness to adapt or the decision to rebel would impact the quality of our life and education in the coming years.
When our eyes began to wander, we received sharp reminders to focus on our teacher. Eventually, most of us got the message.
Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.
Proverbs 4:25 ESV
It’s the same in our personal lives – in all of our relationships. Our eyes signal the depth of our acceptance, agreement with, approval of, and love for that person.
During our college courtship, Russ and I spent as much time together as we possibly could getting to know one another better. When conversation was exhausted, we were more than content to sit together silently, eyes locked.
It looks a bit silly and naive typed across the page, but forty-nine years later it is still true. Our locked gaze spoke volumes then – it still does.
Once in the adult working world, I learned more about the importance of eye contact and focus. If an employee was reluctant to make eye contact or avoided it altogether, I knew that I did not have her or his attention. The person was either:
- Purposely not engaging in the conversation or extremely distracted,
- Not relating to the message being relayed,
- In disagreement with what was being said but unwilling to say so,
- Extraordinarily shy or withdrawn, or
- They weren’t listening, didn’t care, and would rather be anywhere besides trapped in the conversation.
The importance of eye contact and focus was reinforced when I moved into the sales and consulting side of the business. By watching the eyes of a prospective client or current customer, I could tell if a connection had been established, a relationship started, and if the potential for sales was strong or not likely. Body language is important but the eyes tell the story.
All of that to say this: God wants our gaze focused on Him. He wants to lock eyes with us in deeply personal communion and devoted commitment.
God knows that if our gaze is not locked solidly on Him, He does not have our whole undivided heart.
I heard an author friend (Christine Ferris*), who is also a gifted dog trainer, say something to the effect that if you do not have a dog’s eyes, you don’t have the dog’s heart. She went on to explain that if the dog’s eyes aren’t focused on the trainer, the dog is not fully engaged – not focused. Training will be difficult if it happens at all.
It’s the same with us. If we are unable to fix our eyes on Jesus; if we are unwilling to focus our gaze purposely and intentionally, we will never be fully surrendered or wholeheartedly able to serve Him. He will never have our whole, undivided heart.
Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2 NIV
The writer of Hebrews tells us to fix “our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith (Heb. 12:2 NIV).” The Greek word translated as “fix or fixing” in the NIV is also expressed as “looking, looking only, looking steadfastly, and keeping [our eyes on Jesus].”
FOCUS.
Just as I learned in first grade, in courtship and marriage, in the corporate world, and in all of my relationships, focus is necessary for growing and deepening the bonds of fellowship. As important and dear to our hearts, as so many of our earthly relationships are, they all pale in comparison to the connection that God wants to have with each of His children.
While our focus and gaze wander, God has fixed His eyes on us. His gaze never falters and His eyes never turn from those upon whom He has set His love.
He sees and delights in us when we gaze up at Him in obedient love and surrender. He sees and is grieved when we choose to go our own way, charting our own path, and focusing our eyes on our own desires and goals.
Great and mighty God, whose name is the LORD Almighty, great are Your purposes and mighty are Your deeds. Your eyes are open to the ways of all mankind; You reward each person according to their conduct and as their deeds deserve.
Jeremiah 32:18b-19 NIV
Let us cry out with loud voices like the two blind men sitting beside the crowded Jericho road cried out to Jesus:
Lord, have mercy on us! …Lord, let our eyes be opened.
Matthew 20:20-34
Lord and Savior, this is our prayer, as You answered the two blind beggars with healing, please take pity on us and open our eyes so that we can behold Your beauty and Your love for us. Fix our gaze upon You today, forever and always. Amen.
*Christine Nicole Ferris, Author of “Lessons from Lad”