“Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess” (Hebrews 3:1)

Christianity is unique among world religions because it is the only one with a Savior. This faith is less about what you must do for salvation and all about what Jesus has already done for you. When we confess our faith in Christ, we place our trust in Him as our personal savior. This is why the writer of Hebrews urges us to "fix your thoughts on Jesus." When we consistently focus our attention on Him, He keeps our hearts and minds in perfect peace, even when the world around us is in turmoil.

There is a powerful account in the Gospel of Matthew that illustrates this truth perfectly. It involves Peter walking on water. The disciples were in a boat, caught in a fierce storm all night, buffeted by wind and waves. Their situation seemed hopeless. Then, in the early morning, they saw a figure walking toward them on the water and cried out in terror, assuming it was a ghost. But it was Jesus, and He told them to take courage.

Upon hearing His voice, Peter asked Jesus to command him to come out onto the water. Jesus’ simple reply was, "Come."

The Danger of a Distracted Gaze

Peter stepped out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. Imagine the faith that took! For a time, he was doing the impossible. But the Bible tells us, "when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, 'Lord, save me!'" (Matthew 14:30).

What changed? Nothing about the storm or Jesus's power had changed. The only thing that shifted was Peter's focus. He took his eyes off Jesus and looked at the wind and the waves. He became aware of his circumstances, and fear took over. Instead of focusing on the One who held him up, he was distracted by the chaos around him.

Notice that he "began to sink." It was a gradual process. When his thoughts were fixed on Jesus, he walked on water. When his attention turned to the storm, he sank. Thankfully, Jesus was right there. The scripture says, "Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. 'You of little faith,' he said, 'why did you doubt?'" (Matthew 14:31). This story is a beautiful parallel for our own lives. To get through life's storms, we must constantly fix our thoughts on Jesus.

You Are Set Apart for a Purpose

To keep our focus on Jesus, it is vital to understand who we are in Christ. The writer of Hebrews calls us "holy brothers," which means we are consecrated—set apart by God for a sacred and higher purpose. This isn't something we do for ourselves; it is a declaration God makes over us the moment we trust in Jesus.

Renewing our minds to this truth is essential. When we know who we are in Christ, we can walk in the purpose to which we have been called. We are to look thoughtfully and attentively at Jesus, our High Priest, because He proved His faithfulness by sharing in our humanity and breaking the power of death (Hebrews 2:14-18). He empowers and guides us through life. When we pay attention, we, like Peter, can stay on top of the water.

This is why Peter later wrote, "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness" (2 Peter 1:3-4). The power to escape the corruption of this world comes from knowing God. We have been set apart so that we can live the holy lives to which we have been called.

God has a plan for each of us, but we must walk it out. This gives our lives incredible purpose and value. We can look at figures from scripture who understood this:

• Jeremiah: God told him, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations" (Jeremiah 1:4-5). Jeremiah was young, but God promised to be with him, give him the words to say, and protect him.

• The Apostle Paul: He began as an enemy of the church, but his past did not disqualify him from his future. He knew he was "called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God" (Romans 1:1). His life's mission flowed from this understanding.

• Jesus: He knew His mission perfectly. In the synagogue, He read from Isaiah, declaring, "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me..." (Luke 4:18-21). He knew who He was, why He came, and what He had to do. His focus changed the world.

Relationship, Not Busyness

Knowing that we are set apart is the first step. The second is understanding our "heavenly calling." This calling is not primarily about doing things for God; it is about being in a relationship with God. This is the single most important mission of your life.

Jesus defined eternal life this way: "that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent" (John 17:3). Our mission is to know God. As we cultivate this relationship, our hearts begin to change and align with His. True, lasting change happens from the inside out. This is a natural byproduct of a relationship with Him.

It is easy to get sidetracked by "doing" things for God, even good things. The story of Mary and Martha is a perfect example. When Jesus visited their home, Martha was busy with all the preparations, while Mary sat at Jesus's feet, listening to Him. Martha became distracted and upset that Mary wasn't helping.

Jesus’s response shows what He values most: "Martha, Martha... you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her" (Luke 10:41-42). Jesus didn't condemn Martha's service, but He praised Mary's choice. Mary recognized that the most important thing was simply being with Jesus.

Busyness can slowly shift our focus. Like Martha, we can start with a heart of love and service, but soon find ourselves so occupied with the work that we lose sight of the person we are working for. We must constantly return to the true focus of our lives: a relationship with God.

Making Jesus Personal

The more we fellowship with Jesus, the more equipped we are to serve. His love will naturally overflow from us to others. To experience this, we must make Him personal in our lives. Thoughtfully and attentively consider who He is and what He has done for you.

You were called into a relationship, and relationships only grow when you get to know the other person. Seek to understand His role as your High Priest, your personal advocate with the Father. He was sent to rescue you. Because of Him, you can "approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need" (Hebrews 4:16).

Just as Peter walked on water when He looked to the Savior, you will succeed in this life when you fix your thoughts on Jesus. God has made an incredible promise about this: "'You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart'" (Jeremiah 29:13). You can have confidence in this. When you seek Him, He will be found by you.

Personal Reflection Questions

1. Where do you feel like you’re “sinking” because your focus has shifted from Jesus?

2. Is your life more about “doing for” God or “being with” Him? What’s one way you can choose relationship over busyness?

3. How does knowing your main calling is a relationship with Jesus change how you see your purpose each day?