“You have my full attention. You are my focus, my filter, and my friend.”
Hebrews 12:2 (NIV) Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
The phrase “eye to eye” generally carries two main meanings. First, it refers to mutual understanding or agreement. To “see eye to eye” with someone means that both parties are aligned in thought, values, or perspective—they are on the same page. This phrase is often used to describe harmony in opinion or belief, as in the expression, “They don’t see eye to eye on the issue,” indicating a lack of agreement.
Second, it can describe a direct, honest connection—a personal, face-to-face interaction marked by sincerity, transparency, and presence. In this sense, living “eye to eye” with someone implies a relationship built on honesty, mutual respect, and emotional attentiveness. There is no hiding, pretending, or distancing; instead, both people are fully present and engaged. This deeper level of connection moves beyond agreement into genuine relational intimacy.
To live eye to eye with Jesus is more than mere agreement with His teachings—it is a sacred posture of relational intimacy, unbroken focus, and honest surrender. It means meeting His gaze daily, not flinching, not hiding, and not looking away. Just as a child looks into the eyes of a loving parent to find assurance, direction, and trust, so we live with our spiritual eyes fixed on Christ, seeking His presence as our compass. Living eye to eye with Jesus speaks of a transparent relationship, where nothing is masked, and everything is laid bare—our fears, failures, and hopes—before the One who sees us fully and loves us still (Psalm 139:1-4).
It is a life that resists the constant distractions of the world and instead chooses a face-to-face walk with God, like Moses, who spoke to the Lord as one speaks with a friend (Exodus 33:11). It is to sit like Mary at His feet and gaze upon Him (Luke 10:39), to look into His eyes in both joy and correction, and to allow His truth to shape our perspective. When we live eye to eye with Jesus, we don’t just observe His works—we know His heart. We are not spectators in the crowd; we are disciples in close proximity. This kind of living gives birth to clarity, peace, purpose, and transformation.
In a world full of broken attention and fleeting glances, to live eye to eye with Jesus is to say: “You have my full attention. You are my focus, my filter, and my friend.” It is to live not in hiding but in holy attentiveness, where His gaze becomes the source of our worth and the guide for our path.
1. A Posture of Intimacy — Seeking His Face, Not Just His Hand
Exodus 33:11 “The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend.”
To live eye to eye with Jesus is to adopt a posture of intimacy—one that treasures the presence of God more than His provision. In a culture where even prayer can become transactional, God invites us into something far deeper: friendship. Moses did not merely seek God’s power to part seas or defeat enemies; he sought God’s face. He lingered in the tent of meeting even after others had gone (Exodus 33:9–11). His hunger was not just for direction but for communion, not just for answers but for relationship.
This is what separates true disciples from religious consumers: the desire to know God, not just get from Him. As Psalm 27:8 says, “My heart says of you, ‘Seek his face!’ Your face, Lord, I will seek.” To seek His face is to desire who He is, not only what He can do. It is choosing presence over performance, devotion over duty, and connection over convenience. Living eye to eye with Jesus means slowing down to meet His gaze—not in a rush, not distracted, but fully present.
Practical Applications:
- Set aside daily “tent of meeting” moments where your goal is simply to be with Jesus — not to get answers, but to enjoy His nearness in a quiet space, free from distractions, allowing for a deepened connection and understanding of His presence in your life.
- In your prayers, shift the focus from requests to relationship—start with adoration and thanksgiving, allowing these foundational elements to deepen your connection with the divine and enrich your spiritual practice.
- Practice spiritual stillness. Like Mary in Luke 10:39, sit at His feet not to do, but simply to be, allowing the distractions of the world to fade away, and nurturing an intimate connection with the divine. Embrace the silence, open your heart, and let His presence fill you with peace and understanding.
“We are not called to work for God without being with God. Ministry is overflow, not performance.” — Pete Scazzero
2. A Gaze of Trust — Finding Security in His Eyes
Psalm 139:1–4 “You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar… Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely.”
To live eye to eye with Jesus is to rest in His gaze, not shrink from it. It is the gaze of One who sees us fully and still loves us completely. Like a child who locks eyes with a loving parent and finds comfort, confidence, and calm, we find our deepest security in the eyes of Christ. His gaze does not shame—it heals. It does not reject—it redeems. His eyes are not filled with disappointment but with tenderness, truth, and trustworthiness.
“God never turns away from a soul that turns honestly to Him.” — Charles Spurgeon
Psalm 139 reminds us that God sees every detail of our lives — our movements, our thoughts, even our unspoken words. Yet His knowing does not drive us away; it draws us in. Unlike the gaze of the world that often judges or compares, the eyes of Jesus offer safety, identity, and peace. When we live eye to eye with Him, we no longer need to pretend, hide, or strive—we are seen, known, and secure.
“To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial. To be known and not loved is our greatest fear. But to be fully known and truly loved is, well, a lot like being loved by God.” — Tim Keller
Jesus’ gaze brings healing because it is filled with truth and grace. Unlike the world’s gaze, which often assesses worth by performance or appearance, the eyes of Jesus look through to the soul with mercy. He sees our brokenness and does not flinch. He sees our doubts and does not turn away. His gaze invites honesty—not because He is surprised by what we reveal, but because He already knows and still stays. This is the essence of trust: being fully known and yet completely secure.
Implications:
- We no longer need to perform for approval. When we live under the gaze of Christ, our identity is no longer rooted in the opinions of others or in our own achievements.
- We can be honest with ourselves and with God. His eyes see the truth, which means we are free to stop hiding, pretending, or suppressing what is real.
- We are safe in vulnerability. The presence of God becomes a refuge, not a courtroom. We can bring our fears, failures, and longings into His light without fear of rejection.
- We develop unshakable peace. When our security is anchored in the One who sees everything and still chooses us, circumstances lose their power to shake our sense of worth.
- We begin to see others through His eyes. Being seen and loved by Jesus reorients how we see people—not with judgment, but with grace and compassion.
3. A Heart of Transparency — Nothing to Hide, Everything to Surrender
Psalm 139:23–24 “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
To live eye to eye with Jesus requires radical honesty—a willingness to be seen as we truly are. It’s not about perfection but openness. In His presence, we don’t have to wear masks, hide our brokenness, or pretend we’re okay. Just as Adam and Eve hid from God after sin entered the garden (Genesis 3:8–10), we too often hide from His gaze out of guilt or shame. But Jesus invites us to come as we are, not as we wish we were. His gaze is not invasive—it’s inviting. When we live in this kind of transparency, it becomes the gateway to true healing and spiritual growth.
David’s prayer in Psalm 139:23–24 is a model of surrender: “Search me… test me… lead me.” This is not the prayer of someone trying to hide from God—it’s the prayer of someone who wants to walk closely with Him. God doesn’t search us to shame us, but to heal what is hidden and lead us toward wholeness. Transparency with Jesus isn’t weakness—it’s worship.
Transparency before Jesus reshapes our relationship with God. It transforms fear into freedom, because we no longer feel the need to impress or perform. It turns distance into closeness, because we’re not hiding anymore. And it brings spiritual maturity, because only what we surrender can be sanctified. God does not require perfection; He desires truth in the innermost being (Psalm 51:6). Living eye to eye with Jesus means we no longer avoid His gaze in guilt but welcome it in grace, knowing that the eyes that see our sin also burn with redeeming love.
Implications on Our Relationship with God:
1. Transparency Deepens Intimacy
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” — Psalm 34:18
When we stop hiding from God and start bringing Him our real thoughts, wounds, and weaknesses, the relationship deepens. We no longer engage with Him based on who we wish we were—but on who we truly are. That’s where true intimacy begins: not in pretending, but in revealing. We stop performing and start abiding. Just as Adam and Eve hid after sin, many today still hide in shame, but eye-to-eye living reverses that by saying, “Here I am, Lord.”
2. Transparency Builds Trust
When we experience that God sees the worst in us and doesn’t walk away, we begin to trust Him more. His unwavering gaze builds confidence in His mercy. We stop expecting rejection and start anticipating grace. As we share more of ourselves with Him, our trust grows—not because He changes, but because we come out of hiding.
“He knows the worst about us and yet believes the best for us.” — A.W. Tozer
3. Transparency Leads to Transformation
“But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.”— Ephesians 5:13
What we hide cannot be healed. When we bring sin, anxiety, fear, and pain into His light, God doesn’t just forgive—He transforms. We allow Him to deal with root issues, not just surface behavior. The Spirit sanctifies what is surrendered. True change doesn’t happen through willpower, but through spiritual exposure to God’s love and truth.
4. Transparency Removes the Pressure to Perform
“In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength…” — Isaiah 30:15
When we are transparent with God, we no longer relate to Him based on performance or religious routine. We’re not trying to earn His approval—we already have it in Christ. This frees us from shame-driven spirituality and allows us to walk with God in rest, not striving.
5. Transparency Restores Peace and Identity
“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear…” — 1 John 4:18
Being fully known and fully loved brings inner rest. We no longer live under the fear of being “found out.” Our identity is not in what we hide, but in who we are in Christ. The gaze of Jesus becomes the mirror in which we see ourselves rightly—as beloved, redeemed, and whole.
Transparency with Jesus doesn’t distance us from Him—it draws us into deeper friendship, greater freedom, and lasting peace. In His gaze, we are safe to be seen and invited to be changed.
“You cannot heal what you hide. God meets us in the light, not behind the mask.” — John Ortberg
4. A Disciple’s Focus — Blocking Out Distractions to See Him Clearly
Hebrews 12:2 “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith.”
To live eye to eye with Jesus requires a disciple’s focus—a deliberate, disciplined attention on the One who called us, shapes us, and sustains us. In a world overflowing with distractions—noise, news, notifications, and endless comparisons—the battle for our spiritual sight is real. Hebrews 12:2 calls us to “fix” our eyes, not casually glance. This verb implies intentionality, consistency, and determination. It means looking away from all that would entangle or blur our vision and choosing instead to lock eyes with Jesus.
Just as Peter began to sink when he looked at the wind and waves instead of Jesus (Matthew 14:30), we too lose clarity, confidence, and peace when our eyes drift from Christ. Distractions are not always sinful—they are often subtle: the constant scroll, the pursuit of people’s approval, the worries of tomorrow. But anything that dims our view of Jesus must be discerned and dethroned. Spiritual clarity comes not through multitasking, but through singular focus. Eye contact with Christ clears confusion, centers our soul, and strengthens our faith.
This kind of focus is beautifully illustrated in the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38–42. While Martha was “distracted with much serving,” Mary sat at Jesus’ feet, listening to His words. Martha was doing good things—she was preparing, organizing, serving. But her heart was troubled, fragmented, and anxious. Mary, however, chose the “one thing that is necessary”: undivided attention to Jesus. Jesus gently affirmed her focus, saying, “Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Mary lived eye to eye—fully present, unhurried, and centered on Him.
This is the kind of focus that brings spiritual clarity in a cluttered world. Distractions often come disguised as duties or opportunities, but anything that draws us away from Jesus must be examined. A disciple’s focus is not about withdrawing from life, but about making Jesus the lens through which we see everything else—our responsibilities, relationships, and even our suffering. When our gaze is set on Him, our lives come into alignment.
Implications:
- Discipleship demands focus. Following Jesus is not accidental—it requires conscious redirection of our attention and affection away from the world and toward Him.
- Faith grows through fixation. When we behold Jesus continually, we are transformed (2 Corinthians 3:18). Looking at Him fuels our trust, obedience, and endurance.
- Distraction is a form of spiritual drift. What we constantly look at shapes what we believe, feel, and become. Divided focus leads to diluted faith.
- Jesus becomes our lens, not just our destination. Fixing our eyes on Him means we see everything else through His truth—our trials, relationships, work, and future.
- True clarity in life comes from consistent communion with Christ. When He becomes our fixed point, everything else finds its rightful place.
5. A Life of Proximity — Not a Spectator, But a Friend and Follower
To live eye to eye with Jesus is to live in proximity, not distance — in deep fellowship, not distant observation. Many admire Jesus from afar, appreciating His words, but never coming close enough to be changed by them. But those who live eye to eye are like Mary, who not only listened to Jesus but positioned herself close—at His feet, where transformation happens.
This nearness is more than physical; it’s relational and spiritual. In the Gospels, crowds often surrounded Jesus, but only a few stayed close enough to hear His heart. Many were spectators, content to be near the miracles, but few became friends—those who abided, followed, and obeyed. Jesus invites us to more than admiration; He calls us into friendship(John 15:15)—to be those who know His heart, walk in His ways, and remain near even when the path is narrow.
Proximity changes everything. It gives us access to His voice, alignment with His will, and affection that fuels obedience. The closer we are to Him, the clearer our purpose becomes. Just like John, who leaned on Jesus’ chest at the Last Supper (John 13:23), closeness allows us to hear what others miss. Eye to eye living is not reserved for spiritual giants—it is the birthright of every believer who chooses to stay close.
Implications:
- Following Jesus requires nearness, not just knowledge. It’s possible to know about Jesus without truly walking with Him. Proximity leads to intimacy, and intimacy leads to transformation.
- Obedience flows from relationship. The more we abide in Christ, the more our actions naturally align with His heart and will (John 15:4–5).
- Closeness produces clarity. We hear God more clearly and discern His will more accurately when we are near Him rather than spiritually distant.
- Friendship with Jesus changes our identity. We are no longer servants who don’t know the master’s business—we are friends who share in His mission (John 15:15).
- Proximity requires priority. We make room for what we value. Choosing to live near Jesus means reshaping our schedules, desires, and attention to stay close.
“Proximity to Christ always changes us. You cannot sit at His feet and stay the same.”
Conclusion:
To live eye to eye with Jesus is not a one-time act—it is a daily decision to draw near, stay near, and live near. It is a life marked by focus, not distraction; transparency, not hiding; and intimacy, not distance. When we live this way, we not only see Jesus clearly—we begin to see everything else through His eyes. In His gaze, we find grace. In His presence, we find peace. And in His nearness, we find purpose. Let this be your daily posture: “Jesus, You have my full attention. Be my vision, my filter, and my friend.”
To live eye to eye with Jesus is to live attentively, honestly, and intimately. It is a daily decision to turn your full focus to the One who never takes His eyes off you.
When you meet His gaze—undistracted and unafraid—you’ll find clarity, identity, and transformation.
budi hidajat 