Keep your eyes on the prize

Glorified Christ tapestry - Conventry Cathedral

This morning's message comes to us from Colossians 3:1-11.  The necessity for Christians of keeping our "eyes on the prize" is reflected in the words of the spiritual (made famous as the anthem of the civil rights movement):

Chorus:
Hold on; hold on
Keep your eyes on the prize
Hold on

Verse 1:
Paul and Silas bound in jail; had no money to go their bail
Keep your eyes on the prize; hold on
Paul and Silas thought they were lost; dungeon shook; their chains came off
Keep your eyes on the prize; hold on

Verse 2:
Freedom's name is mighty sweet; and soon we're gonna meet
Keep your eyes on the prize; hold on
Got my hand on the gospel plow; won't take nothing for my journey now
Keep your eyes on the prize; hold on

Verse 3:
The only chains in which we stand are the chains of hand in hand
Keep your eyes on the prize; hold on
Goliath may his cudgel swing; still the louder we will sing
Keep your eyes on the prize; hold on

Verse 4:
And though these burdens weigh us down, we'll march on to gain the crown
Keep your eyes on the prize; hold on
Dusty feet now ripped and torn will freely dance when comes the morn
Keep your eyes on the prize; hold on

Verse 5:
The only thing I did was wrong was staying in the wilderness way too long
Keep your eyes on the prize; hold on
The only thing we did was right was the day we started to fight
Keep your eyes on the prize; hold on