From Distance to Delight: Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus

Devotional

Day 1: Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus

Psalm 45 calls us to focus on Jesus, who embodies truth, honor, justice, purity, and loveliness. By fixing our eyes on Him, we move from a place of distance to delight. This focus provides stability and hope in a world filled with uncertainty and rapid change. [05:03]

In a world that often feels chaotic and unstable, it is easy to become overwhelmed by the uncertainties and challenges we face daily. Psalm 45 invites us to shift our focus from these temporal concerns to the eternal and unchanging nature of Jesus Christ. By fixing our eyes on Him, we are reminded of His truth, honor, justice, purity, and loveliness. This shift in focus moves us from a place of feeling distant from God to one of delighting in His presence.

When we fix our eyes on Jesus, we find a firm foundation in the midst of life's storms. His character and promises provide stability and hope, anchoring us in a world that is constantly changing. As we meditate on His word and speak His truths out loud, we are drawn closer to Him, experiencing the peace and joy that come from a deep relationship with our Savior.

Hebrews 12:2 (ESV): "Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."

Reflection: What specific worries or uncertainties are you facing today? How can you intentionally shift your focus to Jesus and find stability in His unchanging nature?

Day 2: The Beauty of Christ

The Psalm describes the King’s beauty not just in physical terms but in His character, dignity, and grace. This inner beauty is what truly moves our hearts. Jesus, as the ultimate King, is trustworthy and righteous, providing a firm foundation for our faith. [08:44]

Psalm 45 paints a vivid picture of the King’s beauty, emphasizing not just His physical appearance but His character, dignity, and grace. This inner beauty is what truly captivates and moves our hearts. Jesus, as the ultimate King, embodies these qualities perfectly. His trustworthiness and righteousness provide a firm foundation for our faith, drawing us closer to Him.

In a world that often values external appearances and superficial qualities, the beauty of Christ stands in stark contrast. His character, marked by truth, honor, and grace, is a source of inspiration and strength for us. As we reflect on His beauty, we are reminded of the depth of His love and the perfection of His nature, which calls us to a deeper relationship with Him.

Isaiah 33:17 (ESV): "Your eyes will behold the king in his beauty; they will see a land that stretches afar."

Reflection: How does the inner beauty of Christ inspire you in your daily life? In what ways can you reflect His character, dignity, and grace to those around you?

Day 3: The Eternal Reign of Christ

In a world that feels chaotic and unstable, the truth that Jesus reigns eternally is a source of hope. His throne is forever, and His kingdom is marked by justice and righteousness. This truth calls us to take our eyes off the uncertainties of the world and fix them on the unchanging nature of God. [14:02]

The eternal reign of Christ is a profound source of hope in a world that often feels chaotic and unstable. Unlike earthly rulers who may ascend through pride and injustice, Jesus ascends through truth, humility, and justice. His throne is forever, and His kingdom is marked by justice and righteousness. This truth provides a firm foundation in the midst of life's uncertainties.

As we fix our eyes on the unchanging nature of God, we are reminded that His reign is eternal and His promises are sure. This perspective helps us navigate the challenges and uncertainties of life with confidence and hope, knowing that our ultimate security is found in Him.

Psalm 93:1-2 (ESV): "The Lord reigns; he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed; he has put on strength as his belt. Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved. Your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting."

Reflection: What uncertainties or challenges are you currently facing? How can the truth of Christ's eternal reign provide you with hope and stability today?

Day 4: The Church as the Bride of Christ

The imagery of the bride in Psalm 45 symbolizes the church, which is in a state of betrothal, preparing for Christ’s return. This preparation involves leaving the past behind and looking forward with hope, clothed in the righteousness provided by Jesus. [24:24]

Psalm 45 uses the imagery of a bride to symbolize the church, which is in a state of betrothal, eagerly preparing for Christ’s return. This preparation involves leaving the past behind and looking forward with hope, clothed in the righteousness provided by Jesus. The bride is called to commit fully to her future with the King, a call to honor and hope.

As the church, we are called to prepare ourselves for the day when Christ, our groom, will come to take us home. This preparation involves a daily commitment to live in a manner worthy of our calling, leaving behind the things of the past and embracing the new life we have in Christ. It is a journey of transformation, as we are adorned in the righteousness provided by Jesus, ready to meet our King.

Revelation 19:7-8 (ESV): "Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure."

Reflection: In what ways can you prepare yourself as the bride of Christ? What past habits or attitudes do you need to leave behind to fully embrace your future with Him?

Day 5: Speaking and Meditating on God’s Word

The Psalm encourages us to not only meditate on God’s word but to speak it out loud. Declaring God’s truths verbally can have a profound impact on our hearts, leading us to a deeper understanding and delight in Him. This practice helps us internalize and live out the truths of Scripture. [35:35]

Psalm 45 encourages us to engage deeply with God's word, not only through meditation but also by speaking it out loud. Declaring God's truths verbally can have a profound impact on our hearts, leading us to a deeper understanding and delight in Him. This practice helps us internalize and live out the truths of Scripture, transforming our lives from the inside out.

When we speak God's word out loud, we are actively participating in the process of renewing our minds and aligning our hearts with His truth. This practice can strengthen our faith, provide clarity in times of confusion, and bring comfort in moments of distress. By making God's word a central part of our daily lives, we are better equipped to navigate the challenges we face and to live in a manner that honors Him.

Joshua 1:8 (ESV): "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success."

Reflection: How can you incorporate the practice of speaking God's word out loud into your daily routine? What specific scriptures can you declare today to strengthen your faith and draw closer to God?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Good morning, Crosspoint. Today, we delve into Psalm 45, a love song that speaks to the heart's journey from feeling distant from God to delighting in Him. This Psalm, often sung on a wedding day, is a celebration of love and commitment, and it offers profound insights into our relationship with God. The Psalm begins with a heart moved by a noble theme, which transitions from a place of distance to one of delight as it fixes its eyes on the King, ultimately pointing us to Jesus. The beauty of the King, described in poetic language, is not just about physical appearance but about His character, dignity, and grace. This Psalm calls us to focus on Jesus, who embodies truth, honor, justice, purity, and loveliness.

As we reflect on the majesty and splendor of the King, we are reminded of His might and righteousness. Unlike earthly kings who may ascend through pride and injustice, Jesus ascends through truth, humility, and justice. This truth is a firm foundation in a world filled with uncertainty and rapid change. Fixing our eyes on Jesus provides stability and hope, reminding us that His throne is eternal and His reign is righteous.

The Psalm then shifts focus to the bride, symbolizing the church. The bride is called to leave her past and commit fully to her future with the King, a call to honor and hope. This imagery of a wedding procession, where the bride is adorned in garments provided by the groom, symbolizes the church's preparation for Christ's return. The church, as the bride of Christ, is in a state of betrothal, preparing for the day when the groom will come to take her home.

This Psalm is not just a fairy tale but a reality that speaks to our current situation. It calls us to fix our eyes on Jesus, to speak His truths out loud, and to meditate deeply on His word. This love song is meant to move our hearts from indifference to delight in God, providing a sturdy foundation in the midst of changing times.

###

Key Takeaways

1. Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus: Psalm 45 calls us to focus on Jesus, who embodies truth, honor, justice, purity, and loveliness. By fixing our eyes on Him, we move from a place of distance to delight. This focus provides stability and hope in a world filled with uncertainty and rapid change. [05:03]
2. The Beauty of Christ: The Psalm describes the King’s beauty not just in physical terms but in His character, dignity, and grace. This inner beauty is what truly moves our hearts. Jesus, as the ultimate King, is trustworthy and righteous, providing a firm foundation for our faith. [08:44]
3. The Eternal Reign of Christ: In a world that feels chaotic and unstable, the truth that Jesus reigns eternally is a source of hope. His throne is forever, and His kingdom is marked by justice and righteousness. This truth calls us to take our eyes off the uncertainties of the world and fix them on the unchanging nature of God. [14:02]
4. The Church as the Bride of Christ: The imagery of the bride in Psalm 45 symbolizes the church, which is in a state of betrothal, preparing for Christ’s return. This preparation involves leaving the past behind and looking forward with hope, clothed in the righteousness provided by Jesus. [24:24]
5. Speaking and Meditating on God’s Word: The Psalm encourages us to not only meditate on God’s word but to speak it out loud. Declaring God’s truths verbally can have a profound impact on our hearts, leading us to a deeper understanding and delight in Him. This practice helps us internalize and live out the truths of Scripture. [35:35]
### [35:35]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:21] - Introduction to Psalm 45
[05:03] - Moving from Distance to Delight
[07:04] - The Beauty of the King
[08:44] - The Inner Beauty of Christ
[10:29] - The Mighty Warrior King
[12:20] - The Eternal Reign of Christ
[14:02] - Stability in Uncertain Times
[15:53] - The Bride’s Preparation
[17:55] - Commitment and Hope
[19:46] - Cultural Context of Ancient Weddings
[21:17] - The Wedding Procession
[22:48] - The Bride’s Adornment
[24:24] - The Church as the Bride of Christ
[26:27] - Fulfillment in Jesus
[28:05] - Christ and the Church
[29:57] - Preparing for the Groom’s Return
[31:42] - The Betrothal and Rescue
[33:37] - The Marriage Feast of the Lamb
[35:35] - Fixing Our Eyes on Christ
[37:20] - Listening and Considering
[39:12] - Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What is the main theme of Psalm 45, and how does it transition from distance to delight? [05:03]
How does the Psalm describe the beauty of the King, and what aspects of His character are highlighted? [07:04]
What imagery is used to describe the church as the bride of Christ in Psalm 45? [15:53]
How does the Psalm encourage us to speak and meditate on God’s word? [35:35]

Interpretation Questions

What does it mean to fix our eyes on Jesus, and how does this provide stability and hope in uncertain times? [14:02]
How does the description of the King’s beauty in Psalm 45 relate to the character of Jesus as described in Hebrews 1:8-9? [08:44]
In what ways does the imagery of the bride in Psalm 45 symbolize the church’s preparation for Christ’s return? [24:24]
How can speaking God’s truths out loud impact our hearts and lead us to a deeper understanding and delight in Him? [35:35]

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you felt distant from God. What steps did you take, or could you take, to move from distance to delight in Him? [05:03]
How can you practically fix your eyes on Jesus this week amidst the uncertainties and rapid changes in the world? [14:02]
The Psalm describes the King’s beauty in terms of His character, dignity, and grace. How can you cultivate these qualities in your own life? [07:04]
What past experiences or relationships do you need to leave behind to fully commit to your future with Christ? [17:55]
How can you incorporate the practice of speaking God’s truths out loud into your daily routine? What specific truths will you declare? [35:35]
The church is described as the bride of Christ, preparing for His return. What steps can you take to prepare yourself spiritually for Christ’s return? [24:24]
Identify one area of your life where you need to focus more on the unchanging nature of God rather than the uncertainties of the world. How will you make this shift? [14:02]

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "What happens to the heart when it feels distant from God? How do we lead our heart from feeling distant to delighting in God? When he feels distant, when he feels absent, how do we lead our heart? That's the sermon in a sentence, if you will, is that Psalm 45 leads hearts that feel distant toward God, towards delight." [01:21] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "If I were to tell you, now take your eyes off of Jesus for a moment. This king who is going to be the king of the world, who is triumphant, who is handsome in character, who is trustworthy, who is righteous, who is humble. And I want you to watch the news and fix your eyes there. Fix your eyes on the world in the newspaper. Fix your eyes on how quickly technology is changing, how quickly society seems to be changing, the uncertainty in the world. Fix your eyes on that. What begins to happen? We feel the anxiousness, don't we? We feel the uncertainty." [13:02] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Yes, things are changing, but our God is unchanging. He is still on the throne. He is still righteous. He is still humble. He is still good, and he still desires your joy. That's what's true. This truth, deeply matters. It's not just some feel-good thing to file away. It is a sturdy, firm foundation beneath our feet in the midst of changing times. In a world that feels chaotic, Jesus reigns." [14:02] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "This is the triumphant king who is groomed in this song. Look at him. It's the white knight that we long for in the fairy tale stories, but we become jaded as we get older, and we've seen people fail again and again, and no one dare stand up on that white knight, or we quickly tear them down. And yet here is Christ, triumphant, a mighty warrior. Truth, justice, humility." [10:29] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "This is the hope that it's meant, to move our hearts from distance to delight. It's meant to say, this is our reality. The church, we together are the bride of Christ preparing ourselves. And Christ is preparing to come and take us home. This is our hope. This is our reality." [33:37] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "My heart is moved by a noble theme. It starts at one place. But as the writer fixes their eyes on the king, on the groom, their heart is moved to another place. There's a change that's happening here that's leading us into feeling the joy of this ceremony, of this wedding, of this love song. The psalm is meant to move us. My heart is moved by a noble theme. That as we fix our eyes ultimately, as we're going to see in this passage, on Jesus." [05:03] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "The beauty of Christ is attributed here to the King. And we see how this moves our hearts of who God really is, not just who we want him to be, not who we think he is, not who others say he is, but who he truly is, how he has revealed himself, putting into words the truth of his nature. And having seen and admired the King's majesty and his splendor, we move to see how the scripture highlights then the might, the warrior, the strength of who this King is." [08:44] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "This picture, from the glory of the groom to the beauty of the bride, every bit of it is meant to draw our hearts towards Christ. That it's more than just a fairy tale, more than just a book you would read your kids at night before bed. This is the reality of our situation today. That sometimes even the word fairy tale makes us think of something make-believe. But what if it's not make-believe? What if this is the reality of our story?" [26:27] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "The church is the bride of Christ. Second Corinthians says, for I am jealous for you. Jealousy, because I have promised you in marriage to one husband to present you a pure virgin to Christ. Do you see it? The apostle Paul writing to the church, he was like, look, I've called you. I am calling you to Christ, to a marriage, to one man. Don't look back on your past and on your failures and in your false worship and the things that you look back on your old life. And you say, wasn't that kind of fun? And we have these, rose-colored glasses. It's saying, no, look to your husband, fix your eyes on him, honor him, and look towards the future with hope because Christ is the groom of the church." [28:05] (59 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "We have been betrothed. The church is preparing itself. The covenant is signed. The groom has gone and is preparing a place and is going to come for his bride. And this is what Jesus said after like during the last supper. I'm going to prepare a place for you, he says. And if I go away and I prepare a place, I will come again and I will take you to myself so that where I am, you may be also. This is the language that's being used. This is the picture that's happening in Psalm 45." [29:57] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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