"Glancing or Gazing?"

 

“Glancing or Gazing?”

 

Several months ago Pastor Brian Stowe asked this question at the close of his message: “Are you gazing at your circumstances and glancing at God or are you glancing at your circumstances and gazing at God?” (I jotted this down for a future article and here it is.) He then encouraged the congregation to “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” (Colossians 3:2) because “…where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21). The Greek word translated “set” has the idea of focusing in a particular direction—noted commentator F.F. Bruce renders the phrase, “Aim then at what is above”. Why? “The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.” (2 Corinthians 4:18, TM).

A glance is a brief look. Solomon tells us, “Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone….” (Proverbs 23:5). By contrast, a gaze is an intense and steady look. David’s desire was “…to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord….” (Psalm 27:4)—in other words, “to see Him in all His splendor”, not just a casual glimpse. At the time of Jesus’ ascension two angels had seen His disciples as they “…looked steadfastly toward heaven….” and asked them, “…Why do you stand gazing up into heaven?” (Acts 1:10-11, NKJV). Apparently they looked long and hard at the departure of the One they had followed then in obedience went about the task He’d assigned them: “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” (Mark 16:15).

Where are my glances and where are my gazes directed? Hebrews 3:1 tells me to “…fix (my) thoughts on Jesus….” and later I’m reminded to “…fix (my) eyes on Jesus….” (Hebrews 12:2). Again let’s listen to David: “My eyes are ever on the Lord….” (Psalm 25:15). I found no place in Scripture where we’re told to merely glance at the Lord or His blessings in our lives but rather gaze and take seriously who He is and what He does day by day.

So…am I glancing or gazing?

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan