Eyes fixed on Jesus

Hebrews 12:1-3.

When I first started going to the gym, it was a nightmare. I would spontaneously use different equipment and come home with aches. I had to give up. Then one day, I tagged along with a friend who knew what he was doing, which was the game changer.

When life’s journey feels like a struggle, how do we gain the courage to endure or persevere? This passage provides some encouragement in Jesus. He is our perfect example in times of struggle. And more, He works in us to persevere. He is the Perfecter of our faith. So we keep our eyes fixed on Him - our absolute game changer.

In the preceding chapter (11), the writer of the book of Hebrews points to great examples of lived-out faith: Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah… Rahab, and so on. Something these people have in common is that they were all distinctly flawed people, yet they persevered in faith. And they make up the “great cloud of witnesses” that surrounds us (12:1). God wants the knowledge of them surrounding us to encourage us to run our race with perseverance (10:36).

How do we run the race with perseverance?

By Throwing off hindrances and sin (v1)

Hindrances - things not necessarily sinful that weigh us down in our race. Things that make us ineffective. (I pray the Holy Spirit to reveal these to us). We are to throw them off.
Sin - ‘sin that so easily entangles’ speaks of sinful habits. Sins we've gotten used to doing or overlooking, however enticing or gripping to the flesh, we are to throw them off.

By Fixing our eyes on Jesus (v2)

The Perfecter of our Faith - As He is the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, i.e. he began and finished this race, He also does so in us, perfecting the good work He began in us (Philippians 1:6). He is the one who enables us to endure.
The Perfect example of Endurance - since He knows sufferings, He can sympathise with our struggles. He is the example we look to find true encouragement and not lose heart. His perfect example “will shoot adrenaline into your souls! (MSG)” (v3)

We are encouraged by great examples of faith. Still, we are ultimately empowered to persevere by letting go of sin and hindrances, fixing our eyes on Jesus (v2) and considering Him “so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (v3).

Reflect & Pray

When have you tried to overcome a struggle on your own? How can you look to Jesus for strength?

Thank you, Father, that as we reflect on Jesus and His suffering on the cross, we are strengthened by Your Spirit to persevere and endure in our race.

God bless you exceedingly,
Sam.

God’s mercy: sovereign over all

Jonah 1:1-16. I hope you had an enjoyable Christmas break. Happy New Year! Have you ever had one of those sat-nav moments where no matter how far off course you go, it keeps rerouting and repeating “make a u-turn.” That’s the story of Jonah. God sends him north-east to Nineveh, but Jonah heads west to Joppa instead. And the book shows us something remarkable: God’s response to people on the wrong route isn’t abandonment, but mercy. Like a sat-nav, He keeps rerouting and calling us back to Himself. Jonah takes us on a journey into the nature of God’s mercy. In today’s passage, as we see the striking stubbornness of Jonah toward God, we begin to see the saving sovereignty of God’s mercy. In spite of Jonah’s refusal of God’s directive, God is still in control. He commands and can change all things (Ps 148:5, Jer 32:17). ...

The Birth that affects everyone

Luke 2:10-15. (The message of the angel to the shepherds). When a baby is born, people celebrate, send gifts, and travel from all over to see the baby. And it can be pretty expensive for those of us with siblings all over. Often, when we see the baby, we make physical remarks like: “Oh, she’s got a round head like her dad”, or “his eyes are like his mum’s,” or “the baby’s so cute”, or “isn’t it lovely that she sleeps a lot”. All these remarks are not remarks of expectation. We’re not expecting anything from the baby for ourselves, let alone for everyone; that would be odd. But many years ago, a baby was born, and an angel appeared to some shepherds, informing them that this birth had implications for all people (v10). This birth affects everyone, you and me, both in this life and in the next. What did th...

God’s response to repentance is great joy

Luke 15. (The Parables of the Lost…Sheep, Coin and Son). The three parables were Jesus’ response to a criticism from the Pharisees. They saw that tax collectors and sinners gathered around Jesus, and that He welcomed and ate with them (v1-2). And Jesus likened the tax collectors and sinners who had gathered around Him to something important that was lost (v3-32). Can you recall a time you lost something important? I once arrived at the airport and realised my passport wasn’t in my jacket. I thought, could I have forgotten it? In the middle of the check-in area, with everyone stirring, I emptied my hand luggage; my clothes, bank cards, documents, laptop, and everything else were scattered all over the place. I finally found my passport, which I had hurriedly packed with my clothes. Out of excitement, I yelled, “Yes, found it!” A few people began ...

A Devotional Life

Search This Blog