Keep Your
Eye on the Prize "Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went
to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the
sea, they were troubled, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried
out for fear. But immediately Jesus
spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be
afraid." And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." So He
said, "Come." And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he
walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was
boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying,
"Lord, save me!" And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and
caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you
doubt?" And when they got into
the boat, the wind ceased. Then those who were in the boat came and
worshiped Him, saying, "Truly You are the Son
of God." Matthew 14:25-33 (NKJV) "And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon,
and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity,
the sea and the waves roaring; "men's hearts failing them from fear
and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the
powers of heaven will be shaken. "Then they will see the Son of Man
coming in a cloud with power and great glory. "Now when these things
begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption
draws near." Luke 21:25-28 (NKJV) "Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth,
and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." John 14:6 (NKJV) "And He has made from one blood every nation of
men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their
dwellings, "so that they should
seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him,
though He is not far from each one of us;
"for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some
of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring.’” Acts 17:26-28
(NKJV) "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God,
these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again
to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out,
"Abba, Father." The Spirit
Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if
children, then heirs; heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed
we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. For I consider
that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with
the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the
creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God." Romans 8:14-19 (NKJV) "For we know that the whole creation groans and
labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who
have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we
ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the
redemption of our body. For we were
saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one
still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we
eagerly wait for it with perseverance." Romans 8:22-25 (NKJV) "Therefore let us pursue the things which make for
peace and the things by which one may edify another". Romans
14:19 (NKJV) "For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face
to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is
love". 1
Corinthians 13:12-139 (NKJV) "Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but
especially that you may prophesy". 1 Corinthians 14:1 (NKJV) "Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil
is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord
is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a
mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image
from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord." 2
Corinthians 3:16-18 (NKJV) "For all things are for your sakes, that grace,
having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the
glory of God. Therefore we do not
lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is
being renewed day by day. For our
light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more
exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things
which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which
are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are
eternal." 2
Corinthians 4:15-18 (NKJV) "Not that I have already attained, or am already
perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ
Jesus has also laid hold of me.
Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I
do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those
things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward
call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have
this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even
this to you." Philippians 3:12-15 (NKJV) "If then you were raised with Christ, seek those
things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.
Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died,
and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life
appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory." Colossians
3:1-4 (NKJV) "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of
evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and
pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But you, O man of God, flee
these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience,
gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to
which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the
presence of many witnesses." 1 Timothy 6:10 (NKJV) "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so
great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin
which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is
set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith,
who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the
shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews
12:1-2 (NKJV)
Focus on Jesus