"And let us run with endurance the race God has set
before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus..."
Hebrews 12:1-2 NLT
This morning, as I was having a time of devotion with the Lord...
before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus..."
Hebrews 12:1-2 NLT
This morning, as I was having a time of devotion with the Lord...
... I was reminded of the importance of staying focused on Him alone, and thereby staying on course.
As I was reading the twelfth chapter of the letter to the Hebrews in the New Testament, I was likewise reminded of how vital it is for pilots of planes to stay on course, especially in times of turbulence, and for captains of ships to do the same when they encounter intense storms and rough seas. As the slightest variance to one's course could cause them to lose their way
and miss their destination.
And as for the Lord Jesus, His destination was the cross. This is why He came. As the Lamb of God who was to give himself as an offering for our sins, the cross was unavoidable, and so was all the suffering He had to endure.
Knowing His mission along with loving humanity in spite of our fallen, rebellious, and sinful state, He stayed on course to the end. He accepted the pain and the shame that came with having to die as a criminal. Jesus did this for us. He got what we deserved. And this was a message for me.
That I too must make every effort to stay on the spiritual course that Father God has laid out for me. Not in dying for my sins, because God the Son has already taken care of that. But rather to die to my own selfish plans and ambitions, and to live a life of love and service to the King of the Universe instead.
And although it is not an easy task to live for the Lord in a fallen world, He has provided everything that I need to fulfil my mission.* Yet I must honestly confess that at times I have indeed fallen into sin on occasion, and gone off course. But Messiah Jesus was there to pick me up and put me back in the right direction. I'm thankful for His mercy!
Nevertheless, as an overcomer that Father God has called all His children to be, I cannot make excuses for my shortcomings. I now realize that I must do my part to stay on course. I need to be focused on my Savior, and not on myself. Amen!
D.B.
*See 2 Peter 1:1-11 in the New Testament for a list of all the things we need and already have available to us now to live a life that is pleasing and useful to our Lord.
As I was reading the twelfth chapter of the letter to the Hebrews in the New Testament, I was likewise reminded of how vital it is for pilots of planes to stay on course, especially in times of turbulence, and for captains of ships to do the same when they encounter intense storms and rough seas. As the slightest variance to one's course could cause them to lose their way
and miss their destination.
And as for the Lord Jesus, His destination was the cross. This is why He came. As the Lamb of God who was to give himself as an offering for our sins, the cross was unavoidable, and so was all the suffering He had to endure.
Knowing His mission along with loving humanity in spite of our fallen, rebellious, and sinful state, He stayed on course to the end. He accepted the pain and the shame that came with having to die as a criminal. Jesus did this for us. He got what we deserved. And this was a message for me.
That I too must make every effort to stay on the spiritual course that Father God has laid out for me. Not in dying for my sins, because God the Son has already taken care of that. But rather to die to my own selfish plans and ambitions, and to live a life of love and service to the King of the Universe instead.
And although it is not an easy task to live for the Lord in a fallen world, He has provided everything that I need to fulfil my mission.* Yet I must honestly confess that at times I have indeed fallen into sin on occasion, and gone off course. But Messiah Jesus was there to pick me up and put me back in the right direction. I'm thankful for His mercy!
Nevertheless, as an overcomer that Father God has called all His children to be, I cannot make excuses for my shortcomings. I now realize that I must do my part to stay on course. I need to be focused on my Savior, and not on myself. Amen!
D.B.
*See 2 Peter 1:1-11 in the New Testament for a list of all the things we need and already have available to us now to live a life that is pleasing and useful to our Lord.
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