August 3 | Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 3:18

Elaine Pierce
Aug 3, 2025
2 min read

DAILY READING

REFLECTION

Turn Your Eyes to Jesus

By Elaine Pierce

The world tells us one thing: God's word tells us another. The world's call to pleasure, to 'eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die. (Isaiah22:13).' In today's passage, Paul tells us in I Corinthians 3 that we should become fools to become wise, which at first glance doesn't make sense at all. And in the Romans 12 passage, we are reminded NOT to conform to the pattern of the world.

Does this mean that we are to live lives with no joy? Heavens no! The world's 'merriment' is fleeting: eat, drink, be merry, die. When we conform to God's will - God's good, pleasing and perfect will - we will experience joy that is deep and lasting, no matter what our outward circumstances may be.

I remind myself daily that the Christian life is a grace operation. I don't have to be perfect, thank the Lord! But I do serve a perfect God, and one day I will see him face to face, and and I shall be fully known (take a look at I Corinthians 13 as a reminder of what is to come).

One of my favorite hymns was written in 1922 by Helen Lemmel. She married a wealthy man, but when she became blind, he left her. In addition to this heartbreak, she experienced countless health problems, and her life began to spiral out of control. One day she read a poem that began like this:

"So turn your eyes upon him, look full into his face, and you will see that the things of earth will acquire a strange new dimness."

She was inspired to rekindle her faith and focus on the Creator rather than her sadness and grief. She wrote over 500 hymns, but this is her most beloved. Let these words and this music soak into your soul, and thank God that the joy he offers us is eternal, forever and ever amen!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ka7bVQmbnk

PRAYER

Lord, so often the world's call to pleasure blocks out your call of service. Help me today and each day to 'turn my eyes upon Jesus' so that the world grows dim. Amen.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ELAINE PIERCE

It is a delight and joy to write Sunday's UALC Blog post. I have been a UALC member for 20+ years and I value our community of believers. I draw strength from God's Word, and it is my hope that you join me in seeking to grow closer to Him as we read, study, and pray together. I've been married to Gene for 47 years, and we have four grown children and nine grandchildren. It is an exciting time to be alive, and I count it all joy to serve him, even in the midst of challenges. To God be the glory, for the great things he is doing!