Looking to Jesus (Heb. 12:2b)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 06-27-03

 

 

                                                                                                                       

My Worship Time                  Focus:  Looking to Jesus

 

Bible Reading & Meditation             Reference:  Hebrews 12:2b

 

            1.  Message of the verse:  “2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”  (NASB)  “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.  (NLT)

            I like the way that the NLT reads in this verse where it says that Jesus is the One “whom our faith depends from start to finish.”  This reminds me of a verse in on of Paul’s writings where he said that we are to live our Christian life in the same way that we became a Christian, and that is by grace through faith.  It does not change, like this verse says from start to finish.  Jesus Christ was willing to die for the sins of the world because He knew that this would please His Father, and by doing this it gave Him great joy.  Now I do believe that there is a difference between joy and happiness, and when I read about His death I do not believe that Jesus was happy, but deep in His heart he had a joy about it, for afterwards He would sit at the right hand of God as our faithful High Priest and minister on the believers behalf.  This is who the believer is to look at in order to run the race and go on to victory.

 

            2.  Spiritual meaning for my life today:  This passage makes me think of Peter when he was waling on the water and how when he took his eyes off the Lord that he began to sink.  Peter was walking on the water which is what all of the disciples feared, and there are many times in my Christian walk that I fear, but that is when I need to keep my eyes on Jesus who is the author and finisher of my faith.

 

The Word of God was refreshing, convicting, and instructive to my heart as I read it this morning.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  To trust the Lord by not being so prideful in what He is teaching me, but accept it by grace, and be quietly thankful for it.

 

Memory verse for the week:  Psalm 121:1

 

            1.  I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From whence shall my help come from?