Today’s Scripture: We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish. He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be his afterward. Now he is seated in the place of highest honor beside God’s throne in heaven. Hebrews 12:2 NLT Tyndale
Hebrews 11 and 12 have been challenging my faith these past few days. Reading the honor roll of those who have lived their faith is encouraging and convicting. I keep coming back to these stories and have to ask myself would I have been as faithful?
Would I build an ark in a place that hardly ever gets rain while everyone is questioning my sanity? Could I have the faith of Abraham? Will I go where God is telling me to go? Even looking back to Abel, do I give God my best as an offering? Unfortunately, I know these answers already based on choices I make. Here in Hebrews 12:2 we are told HOW we CAN and WILL do it.
Our only hope and guaranteed path to faithfulness is to keep our eyes on Jesus. OUR FAITH DEPENDS ON IT. He is the author and perfecter and finisher of our faith. We too can look to the joy that will be ours afterward. How is your faith?
Today’s Prayer: Jesus, You are my faith. Help me to keep my eyes on You. I do want to be faithful to God in all things. Help me to strip off every weight that slows me down. Overwhelm my fears with fear of You. Like those who have gone before me I want to be able to look back from Heaven with You to see the prizes from my race be rewarded through the faith of those I leave behind. Amen
Tom Raines
Christian Affirmations 4 Life
Great stuff! Thanks for sharing this today!
Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in his wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his goodness and grace… Songwriter not sure of, but thank you for sparking the tune in my mind bro.<3
Thanks for reminding me of those song!! I love how being more intimate with scripture has given me a new found appreciation for music. “Grow strangely Dim” Amazing how the cares of this world pale and fade away the more we trust and have faith in Him. Thanks sis, hope your visit is going well!
Much needed prayer this morning. Thanks, Tom.
Thank you Dustin!
Both of these examples speak of what I call “abiding faith.” Abide means to continue or to stay, I think of it as a singular focus on Jesus. May we All have abiding faith!
Amen! May we continually refocus and keep our eyes on Him! Thanks!