We Christians like to say we should look to Jesus for everything, or rely on Him for everything. Basically, we should focus on Jesus. But sometimes we don’t really think about what that means. What does it mean to look to, rely on, and focus on Jesus, and how do I do that?
In Hebrews 12:1-3, we see a way we can look to Jesus. The Greek word for looking has to do with considering attentively. Jesus is the author and the finisher, the starter and the completer, of our faith. He’s already run the race, and we should look at what He’s done as an example for what we should do. Jesus endured so we can look at, attentively consider, His example so we can endure also.
In 1 Peter 5:6-7, we see another way to seek Jesus for help, by casting our cares upon Him. The Greek words here carry the idea of throwing our distracting worries to Jesus because He cares about us, is interested in and concerned for us. We can literally ask Jesus for help and He’ll be right there beside us.
In Colossians 3:1-4, we see a principle about focus: seeking and setting your affections on heavenly things and not earthly ones. The Greek here for setting your affection carries the idea of purposefully focusing or exercising your mind on or towards something, of having a specific opinion, and being mentally inclined in that direction. Our attention should be focused on God’s heavenly plans and not preoccupied with earthly plans because we’re dead to the world and alive in Christ.
While this has by no means been an exhaustive list, this is a good start. We can look to, rely on, and focus on Jesus by considering His example, by asking Him for help, and by paying close attention to the things He has in mind for us. Jesus is right here, all we need to do is look at Him.