Dear Precious Friends,
As we start a new precious day, a gift from God and are in this season of great challenge... Let us remember where we are to fix our eyes...
The writer of Hebrews reminds us that the best way to run this race of life is by keeping our eyes on Jesus. Jesus is the person on whom our faith depends from the very start of our race until the end. Our race on earth will end only when we die or when Jesus comes to take us away in the rapture, whichever comes first. It is only by keeping focused on him that we have any chance of living the kind of life that God calls each of us to live. Jesus tells us that he came into the world so that all people could have an abundant and full life. (John 10:10) Paul somewhat describes what a full life looks like when he lists the fruits of the spirit in Galatians 5:22-23. These “fruits” become evident when the Spirit of Jesus is manifested in our lives. Yes our life can be a long and sometimes difficult race. We often grow weary and are in great need of rest. But please remember that our race is a long marathon, not a quick sprint. In order to persevere, we must prepare for many hills and valleys along the way. We must develop a burning desire to one day boldly say; “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7). Jesus endured the cross (finished the race) because of “the joy set before Him” (Hebrews 12:2). And if we will keep our eyes on Jesus as our eternal joy, we “will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:3).
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith...
Hebrews gives us a wonderful list of people who are commended by God for their faith. It is a catalogue of men and women, named and unnamed, that stand as witnesses to lives that honored the Lord – men like Abraham, who looked for a city, whose Builder and Maker is God; women like Sarah, who consider God was faithful to keep His promise.
They are called “a great cloud of witnesses”, and indeed their lives demonstrate a trust in God that stands as a wonderful testimony to the faithfulness of God in their lives, and a great encouragement for us to run the race that lies before us, and press on for the high call of God, as we look to Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith - Who endured the cross for our sake. "Therefore," we are exhorted, "since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us".
Despite the many trials and tribulations they were called upon to face, these men and women obtained a good testimony through faith. They finished the race that was set before them having set aside the sin which plagues so many Christians – the sin of unbelief.
And as we look at their example, we are challenged in our own race through life, to forget the things which are behind, to discard anything and everything that might impede our progress or hinders our witness, as we reach forward to complete God's purposes for our lives.
I am so greatly inspired by their example. I pray we can be a good example of loving God, Loving Others and living in such a way that we ignite joy everywhere we go and others want what we have... the greatest gift ever given.. Our Lord and Savior.
Lets us be the light in this dark world despite our political stance, lets love like Jesus did even when our neighbor doesn't agree with our belief...We will not let the enemy divide us... we love Jesus, we are one body in Christ despite our differences and we are here to live out the great command Jesus left us as our top job description.
Now.. .lets do this on this amazing day... and live it like its our last... we have no guarantee of tomorrow.
Love you all!
AMEN
