Romans 15:4 "For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."
12 We are surrounded by a great cloud of people whose lives tell us what faith means. So let us run the race that is before us and never give up. We should remove from our lives anything that would get in the way and the sin that so easily holds us back. 2 Let us look only unto Jesus, the One who began our faith and who makes it perfect. He suffered death on the cross. But he accepted the shame as if it were nothing because of the joy that God put before him. And now he is sitting at the right side of God’s throne.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
For 17 months, I have been praying relentlessly for strength and even just a bit more motivation; to be set free from the chains of discouragement that seemed to be holding me down, zapping my energy, and paralyzing my will and way.
And to my momentary relief and honor this morning, I woke with a slight sort of spring to my step. A tiny touch of hope greeted my heart.
But only for a brief, flickering flash as reminders of previous disappointments began to spring to my mind that since my triple bypass open heart surgery had deflated many of my dreams, led to my self becoming increasingly frustrated.
At the break of day this morning, I temporarily felt something beneath the surface, ready to burst out and up into positive change and progress – perhaps the coming Christmas season. But the force of the enemy keeps coming on so strong my life’s fight felt threatened, and once again, I was tempted to cave.
Do you ever feel desperate for God’s power to push you onward? Dying for 1% more encouragement and hope to take deep root in your soul with persevering patience, joyful expectation, and certain tiny baby steps of confident purpose?
In my heart and in my soul I do know that God can’t be defeated. I know that his all-powerful spirit is alive and well within me. And so he can and will conquer the enemy trying to turn off, extinguish the light in my soul and surroundings.
But how do we shed even 1% of what is weighing us down, what is keeping our feet super glued to the floor, stand strong against the suppression of our souls?
I bet you’ve wondered something similar.
What is it?
Maybe you’re feeling down due to a past season that didn’t go quite as you hoped or planned.
Or in that lonely wilderness place with no spiritual food or drink to be found, depressed by a current situation that feels incredibly stagnant and hopeless.
Or disheartened by an uncertain future clouded with acute, chronic medical issues (for example – cancer, heart, diabetes, and so on) that looks dim, has no cure, will only get worse with time and feels so completely out of your control.
I get it.
Rising to better health following my heart surgery, constantly getting more tired, fighting Diabetes, I’ve been resisting the pull-down of darkness, too.
But when I step back and ask myself how I can resist, I remember how I’ve done it before. And I’m reminded that it’s in these wrestling places and spaces that we need to stand firm on God’s Word. His Word that says, I am with you.
His Word that says,“I will help you.” “I will keep watch over you day and night, “ And his trustworthy Word brightly proclaiming, “With me, we will conquer this.”
We can and should look up to God, rise and stand up for Jesus, balance ourselves steady our thoughts, look forward, stand sturdy on the solid rock of scripture.
Isaiah41:10 and Romans 8:37 are verses worth memorizing and scripting on our hearts to fight and face such fragile moments.
They read, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10) and, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:37).
And closing out the Eighth chapter of Romans … we read these powerful words;
Romans 8:37-39 New Century Version
37 But in all these things we are completely victorious through God who showed his love for us. 38 Yes, I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor ruling spirits, nothing now, nothing in the future, no powers, 39 nothing above us, nothing below us, nor anything else in the whole world will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
We can grow wiser and more mature in God, the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, trust these words and truths of his presence, help, and victory.
They are his gifts to us and me as children of God.
Yes, in our moments of struggle, we need to listen to the voice of God saying,
“I am here.”
“I always know exactly where you are and why and how you arrived there!”
We need to receive the subtle nudges of encouragement, strength, and light, he showers on us constantly through his creation, people, and presence, His Word!
And we need to never take our eyes off of him, shed what weighs us down which serves only to threaten the integrity of our connection, let go of his hand, while running with highest perseverance the race of life he has mapped out before us.
I know the race is long.
I know there are very few ultra marathoners capable of going on ahead without being consumed by the thoughts, feelings of physical exhaustion, like a never-ending, vision of the unpredictable, heights of a previously unknown marathon.
You’ll keep yourself looking and seeking taking a step forward, two back, three forward, and lose ground all over again. But keep your eyes open and toward the light. It’s always there. It’s always shining. It’s him. The almighty good God.
Ready to risk it?
Praying to God, pleading to God, crying out to God, that by His intercession, we are looking, moving forward. that if we look back far enough, we can see it.
And he will keep moving you on.
He will keep encouraging you, He always has with his presence, his help, and his victorious good and sovereign hand.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
Don’t take your eyes off the light of the Lord today.
And keep looking to him as you journey on.
He is always 100% with you.
He is for you. And he will fortify your fight and perfect your faith as you continue on with him through your life and to the finish line of eternity.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 121 New Century Version
The Lord Guards His People
A song for going up to worship.
121 I look up to the hills, but where does my help come from? 2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
3 He will not let you be defeated. He who guards you never sleeps. 4 He who guards Israel never rests or sleeps. 5 The Lord guards you. The Lord is the shade that protects you from the sun. 6 The sun cannot hurt you during the day, and the moon cannot hurt you at night. 7 The Lord will protect you from all dangers; he will guard your life. 8 The Lord will guard you as you come and go, both now and forever.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
Lately, I have been thinking a whole lot about delayed gratification.
As in, doing now, in the immediate what will hopefully, if correctly planned for will pay off later, versus what only feels good or is easy in the exact moment.
It’s a great concept, right?
Living with an eye on the future, and planning and making choices that will result in a positive outcome a few months or even years down the road (while also avoiding a negative outcome).
But, that kind of advanced planning is not always so very simple to do.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 English Standard Version
16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self[a] is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.
Lately, I have been thinking a whole lot about delayed gratification.
As in, doing now, in the immediate what will hopefully, if correctly planned for will pay off later, versus what only feels good or is easy in the exact moment.
It’s a great concept, right?
Living with an eye on the future, and planning and making choices that will result in a positive outcome a few months or even years down the road (while also avoiding a negative outcome).
But, that kind of advanced planning is not always so very simple to do.
For example,
I’ve been trying for quite a while to control my stubborn blood sugar.
I know that the key is to keep my eye on the prize, and remember that what I do today will affect how I feel (how well me and my body will function) tomorrow.
It’s not easy, but that’s what I need to remember!
Because otherwise, what’s to keep me from just binging on chocolate lava cakes all day on my birthday, with zero regard to the outcome on my bodily systems?
Likewise, we should have the same thought process with regards to eternity (that is, life after death).
We focus so very much on the here and now—this short life on earth—and yet eternity is so much longer!
But because it always seems to be so far off, it’s easier put it on the back burner…as in, “I’ll worry about that later. Today, I have too much to do!”
Except, that time and place called eternity – It’s not that far off though, is it?
Not one of us knows exactly how long we will live, or when Jesus will return, or anything that the future holds.
How Do I Set My Mind On Things Above?
But, you might ask, what does it actually mean to actually have an eternal perspective?
And how do we do that?
I think it boils down to the HOPE of heaven.
In this life, even the seemingly wonderful things (like money or fame), will eventually lead to a grave full of freezing cold emptiness.
God is all about LOVE … so if we want to discipline ourselves to focus on having an eternal perspective, we have to focus on the God who is Love (1 John 4:7-11).
What is an eternal mindset?
And is this something we can, or should, have while living here on this earth?
This devotional effort will explore these two questions, as well as how we can develop an eternal mindset.
What Is an Eternal Mindset?
Merriam-Webster defines mindset as “a mental attitude or inclination.”
It is what we think about something or what our attitude is regarding it.
I have a particular financial and political mindset, an environmental mindset, a brother and sister mindset, a husband and a step parent/grandparent mindset, and many more – and all of those mindsets are all reflected in how I live my life.
Eternal is a word used in a few different ways in the Scripture.
Most commonly, it is part of the expression “eternal life.”
We often think of this as life without end, and it does involve that.
But Jesus defines eternal life as a relationship.
It is knowing God the Father and Jesus his Son (John 17:3).
But here in 2 Corinthians 4:18, Paul uses the word in a very different sense.
He tells us, “What is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
Eternal has the connotation of unending existence.
But it is infinitely more than that.
Here Paul is referring to the unseen realm.
What is unseen is eternal, while what we can see with our earthly eyes is only temporary.
This verse is key to understanding what an eternal mindset is.
The whole verse says, “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
An eternal mindset is a mind focused on the unseen realm, on things above rather than on the outward and subject to rust temporary things of this life.
It is a mindset that understands the physical world is not all there is.
There is a greater reality that is unknowable to our human senses.
This greater reality, particularly the kingdom of God, is revealed to us in the Scripture and seen through the eyes of faith.
Hebrews 11:1-3 English Standard Version
By Faith
11 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.
An eternal mindset keeps the kingdom of God front and center in all one does.
Is This Something That We Should Have?
So, is having an eternal mindset something that is expected of all believers?
The passage quoted above from 2 Corinthians 4:18 answers this question in the affirmative.
Apostle Paul expressed that his eyes were fixed on the unseen, the eternal.
Paul used inclusive terminology in this verse: “we fix our eyes.”
The implication is that this should be true for all believers, not just a select few.
This is reinforced by passages like Colossians 3:1-2, where we are told to set our hearts and minds on things above.
Put On the New Self
3 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
In Hebrews 3:1-2, we are told to fix our thoughts on Jesus.
Jesus Greater Than Moses
3 Therefore, holy brothers,[a] you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, 2 who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God’s[b] house.
And Hebrews 12:1-2, where we are instructed to fix our eyes on Jesus.
Jesus, Founder and Perfecter of Our Faith
12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
This is not something we are to do only on Sunday mornings, but we should all learn to discipline ourselves to focus our lives on Jesus and things above the rest of the days, weeks months, regardless of where we are and what we are doing.
In 1 Corinthians 7:29-31,
29 This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, 30 and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, 31 and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.
Paul tells us that the time is short, and this world is passing away.
So, even as we live in this world, we should not be engrossed in it.
Live in the now.
But keep your hope fixed on what lies ahead, on the eternal.
Don’t let your activities here distract you from the eternal.
What Does an Eternal Mindset Look Like?
We often call the eleventh chapter of Hebrews the Hall of Faith.
This chapter recalls many people from the Old Testament who, by faith, did something extraordinary with their lives which called the author to write it
But this is more than just a roll call of people who lived by faith.
Hebrews 11:9-10 says of Abraham, “By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.”
Hebrews 11:13-16 develops this idea further, showing that these people acted in faith because they looked forward to something beyond this life.
13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.
They each had a mindset that was disciplined and focused upon the life that awaited them beyond the grave, an eternal mindset.
Peter also identifies us as foreigners in this world (1 Peter 1:17; 2:11) and urges us to live that way.
We should never forget our citizenship is as members of the kingdom of God.
While we live in this world, we are to be distinct from it.
Living, not solely to satisfy our temporary desires, but living in a much more disciplined way that will please our heavenly Father.
But this does not mean that we ignore the world we live in, being so heavenly-minded that we are no earthly good.
We still need to work to support ourselves and our families.
We need to care for what God has blessed us with.
We need to relate to the people around us.
And we should be looking to make this world a better place.
But while we do those things, we should always keep sight of whose we are and the future God has prepared for us.
Living a life of faith, trusting God to care for us and bring us safely to that heavenly city without foundations that Abraham was looking forward to.
Our time here is short.
And as we live here, we should hold loosely to the things of this world.
Using them, but not placing great value on them (1 Corinthians 7:31).
Our security should not be in our possessions or any earthly institution.
Instead, it should be in the Lord who is preparing us for our eternal home.
We should also not become overwhelmingly discouraged when life gets hard, or the world seems to be steadily descending into the abysses of chaos and evil.
Instead, trust God with your life (Philippians 4:6-7) and seek to live a holy life (1 Peter 1:15-16) of love (1 John 4:10-11).
How Can We Develop an Eternal Mindset?
The Scripture teaches us that an eternal mindset is appropriate for all believers.
But what does it take to develop a mindset that looks into the future rather than being wrapped up in the subject to rust temporary things of this life?
Paul’s words in Philippians 3:12-14 can help us with this.
Straining Toward the Goal
12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
He expressed that he had not yet reached his goal of Christlikeness, but he was straining and striving toward that.
He was not living in the past.
Instead, he was “straining toward what was ahead, pressing on toward the goal to win the prize for which God had called him heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
There are three aspects to what Paul has to say here.
First, he had a goal.
His goal was to become like Christ.
If we want to develop an eternal mindset, it needs to be our primary goal.
It will not happen by accident.
Nor can your goal be just a wish.
It needs to be something that we will actively pursue.
Second, we need to let go of anything that would interfere with reaching that goal.
For Paul, that was thoroughly giving up, surrendering the past, his heritage, training, accomplishments, and plans for what he originally wanted to become.
We each may have different things we need to leave in our past, things that hold us back – but whatever it may be, we need to make the sacrifice, leave it behind.
And finally, Paul was striving toward his goal.
He knew what he wanted to become.
And he was working at it with all that he was.
I will not develop an eternal mindset just by wishing for it.
Nor by investing a only a few hours a week.
It is a commitment of your whole life in pursuit of the goal.
That includes a commitment to spending time reading the Bible and making its teaching a part of your life.
Time should also be spent in prayer and communion with our heavenly Father, in fellowship with other believers, actively involved in the life of a local church.
These disciplines should take highest priority over many of the activities we might otherwise be engaged in.
Rabbi Jesus illustrates this for us with his parable of the pearl of great price in
Matthew 13:45-46.
The Parable of the Pearl of Great Value
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
Here a merchant sold everything he had to purchase a pearl of great value.
He gave up all he had to have this pearl.
And that is what we need to do.
Give up everything we have to obtain the life that God has called us to.
The development of an eternal mindset is something that we can only do with the Holy Spirit.
Paul’s prayer for the Ephesian church in Ephesians 1:17-19 might be considered a prayer for an eternal mindset:
having spiritual eyes open to the hope we have in Christ, recognizing God’s inheritance in the saints, and knowing his power at work for us who believe.
Benefits of Keeping an Eternal Mindset
For me, it was a strong desire to be assured a place in heaven, that first led me to repentance and a relationship with Jesus. (Okay, fear of judgement and not wanting to go to hell might be more accurate).
In the years since, I have tasted and seen that God is good (Psalm 34:8),
8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
and I’ve lived the blessings of developing an eternal perspective on life.
But still, it’s not always easy to keep up that eternal mindset in the face of distractions and shiny things of this world!
However, it’s so worth it.
Let’s explore just a few benefits of fixing our eyes on the “prize” of heaven…
1) Eternity Reminds Us To Seek God’s Kingdom FIRST.
First and foremost, an eternal mindset will help us to keep the #1 thing the #1 thing.
And that #1 thing is God’s kingdom—specifically, Jesus’ charge to us, to share the good news.
While we look forward to eternity, we know there are still many people who don’t know Jesus, and thus do not have that same hope.
We need to keep a kingdom mindset, and to share the hope we have in Jesus.
1 Peter 3:14-16English Standard Version
14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.
2) Eternity Helps Us Weather The Storms Of Life!
In the midst of trials, the thought of spending eternity with God (where there will be no more tears, pain, or death—Revelation 21:4), makes our struggles seem much smaller.
This life may sometimes seem long and full of pain, but it’s just a blip on the radar on comparison to eternity.
It really does help to set your mind on Jesus!
After all, it was Jesus who said this: “In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
3) Eternity Causes Us To Focus On Things That Really Matter.
Loving God, and loving our neighbors… Celebrating God and celebrating our neighbors – it’s what we did in LOVE that we will all carry with us into eternity (and, that will prayerfully stay with our loved ones who are still on earth too).
In the context of eternity and building up treasures of love, does that argument really matter?
Is it really important to gain promotions, if it takes us away from our family?
I could go on, but I believe you get the idea.
4) Eternity Causes Us To Invest In Heavenly Things!
Like a 5-year-old kid who you’re already saving for college for, and a 12-year-old already thinking about scholarships and GPA’s, it’s good to consider life as prep school for heaven.
How are we investing our time and our talents today?
Just imagine, when you get to heaven, you meet all the people you led to Jesus, all the folks who were hungry and you gave them a meal and something to drink or if you are a teacher all the students you taught, or the people you encouraged.
The people and purposes you choose to invest in MATTER.
Every day we should strive to discipline ourselves to remember, that the things of this world are like cheap baubles: they look amazing at first, but after a while, the glitter will gradually flake off, rhinestones fall out, they’ll lose their luster.
In contrast, eternal things are like real diamonds and gold.
By keeping an eternal mindset, we can store up for ourselves our treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:19-21), and along the long concourse of our lives, prevent ourselves from being continually deceived by the false lure of earthly things.
Being heavenly-minded makes a person more mindful and fruitful for Christ and provides a place of peace for self and others amid the chaos of the world.
Those who are disciplined and focused on eternity are significantly far more impactful for Christ than those who get caught up in the things of the world.
In the name of God the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Father God, it is too easy to get caught up in the baubles of mundane of natural living. Sometimes we only see what is around the next corner. We need the Holy Spirit to lift our perspective so we can see things from heaven’s perspective. Thy Holy Spirit reminds us of the long view. Ultimately, we in faith believe that Jesus will one day return in triumph and the victory will be totally ours. Let this prayer reminds us of this immutable truth and let us ask thy Holy Spirit to calibrate and recalibrate our perspective. If this prayer ministers to you, then please share it with all your friends.
Intercessory Holy Spirit, I pray you will set my mind on heavenly things and help me to see more from a heavenly perspective than an earthly one. This should be natural for a person that is living in God by living in Christ. You are teaching me to rule and reign with my Savior and King Jesus. One day I will appear with Him in the sky. Prepare me for that day now. Develop the mindset of heaven in me in Jesus name,
It’s been said that “there’s no faster track for your soul to find satisfaction than on the path of servanthood.”
In truth, Jesus himself said, “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant” (Matthew 20:26).
Followers of Jesus should have a servant spirit that always looks “not to the best interest of themselves but to the greatest interests of others.”
Sometimes servanthood is poorly understood.
While everyone is equal in Christ, not everyone’s roles are equal. A servant-minded mother still has authority over her child. A servant-minded CEO never abandons the responsibility to lead. Ultimately, the attitude and actions of the Christian are characterized by servanthood, not the position that person holds.
A believer in Christ desires to imitate the servant spirit of Christ.
Since Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened” (Matthew 11:28), God’s Goal for us: reach out to people who need rest, comfort, and help.
Their Goal? They serve as a channel of his grace to people who are lost in the cycle of poverty, or alcohol, drug addiction, violence, victims of violence, or devalued because of their skin color. If the quest for hope is universal, doesn’t it make great sense to share the joy and satisfaction we have received from Jesus?
Jesus served for the joy set before him. Christians too delight that other people will be privileged to taste heaven’s enduring grace through their service to God in God’s own backyard! Service to all of God’s Children in God’s neighborhood.
Hebrews 12:1-2 Amplified Bible
Jesus, the Example
12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of [a]witnesses [who by faith have testified to the truth of God’s absolute faithfulness], stripping off every unnecessary weight and the sin which so easily and cleverly entangles us, let us run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us, 2 [looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith [the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our faith to maturity], who for the joy [of accomplishing the goal] set before Him endured the cross, [b]disregarding the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God [revealing His deity, His authority, and the completion of His work].
The Word of God for the Children of God. Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Amen.
When a person initiates a new, huge endeavor, his passion to succeed in that endeavor strengthens him to keep his eye on the goal in front of him.
For example, as an athlete starts a race, their desire and their goal to win that race helps them keep both of their eyes and feet fixed on the finish line.
While constructing a building, workers who keep their eyes on the architect’s finalized rendering are encouraged to sustain the momentum of the building process.
While we are reading and studying this book called the Bible, which we hold in our hands and our hearts, I have a daily goal of encouraging myself by keeping my sight fixed on God, my Creator and Jesus, the Author and Finisher of my faith!
With every new daily devotional entry I complete, I move closer and closer to that goal, and it gives me courage to keep writing every morning. As a result of my writing, staying on track, you are prayerfully reading this devotional today.
But what do you think Jesus focused on when He was hanging on the Cross and enduring the agony and shame?
You can imagine that He must have had moments when He thought, I don’t have to do this! I could call on legions of angels to deliver me! I could come down from this Cross! What do you think motivated Him to remain there until the job was done?
Hebrews 12:2 is clear what was motivating Jesus – Joy!
The Joy of Accomplishing the Goal set before Him by His Father.
The Goal: Revealing the Deity of His Father, His Authority, the Completion of the Work which God sent His Son into the World (John 3:16-17) to achieve.
2 [looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith [the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our faith to maturity], who for the joy [of accomplishing the goal] set before Him endured the cross,[b]disregarding the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God [revealing His deity, His authority, and the completion of His work].
This verse says Jesus focused on “the joy” that was set before Him as He endured the Cross.
Just like a runner focuses on the finish line, like a builder forges ahead to view the completed building project, and an author anticipates the last written page of a book, Jesus was looking forward to “the joy” of finishing God’s work
I’m sure that somewhere in all of that indescribable agony, as Jesus hung on the Cross, He looked out across eons of time and saw the faces of people who would be saved because of what He was doing. He saw you! He saw me — but what else did He see that motivated Him to stay faithful to the end?
The word “joy” in Greek has a definite article, which means this wasn’t just joy in general, but it was a specific joy.
The verse goes on to describe that joyous “finish line” that Jesus set His face like flint toward: “…who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Jesus had His eyes of faith fixed on the empty throne at the right hand of the Father that was reserved for Him once His victory was complete.
Upon that throne, all enemies would be His footstool, and He would commence the next part of His high priestly ministry to intercede for everyone who would ever come to Him in time of need (see Hebrews 4:16).
Jesus had His eyes, His heart, His mind — His whole being — fixed on that highly exalted place.
That was the joy set before Him.
When sin and hell were defeated and Jesus was resurrected, that was the seat of authority He ascended into Heaven to occupy.
Ever since that time, from that highly exalted position, Jesus has been serving as Lord of the Church and as the High Priest and Intercessor for every believer.
What is the goal in front of you that keeps you motivated to move ahead even when things are difficult?
If you have no goal, it’s likely you’ll give up.
That’s why it is so important to know exactly where you are headed, what will happen when you get there, and what kind of victory you’ll experience when you attain that long-awaited position.
Just as Jesus had a joyous outcome set before Him, I guarantee that you and I have a joyous outcome placed before us too.
STRENGTH TO RUN THE RACE, FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE WHICH PERSEVERE
The Joy of the Lord is our Strength and our Stronghold: Nehemiah 8:9-10
Psalm 18:1-2: “I love You [fervently and devotedly], O Lord, my strength.” 2 The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and the One who rescues me; My God, my rock and strength in whom I trust and take refuge; My shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower—my stronghold.
BY OUR LOVE AND THROUGH OUR OBEDIENCE: THE ABUNDANT LIFE
Deuteronomy 30:19-20 Amplified19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse; therefore, you shall choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, 20 by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding closely to Him; for He is your life [your good life, your abundant life, your fulfillment] and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the Lord promised (swore) to give to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”
How does all of this speak to our 2022 hearts. our souls and our servanthood?
Hebrews 12:2 Amplified Bible
2 [looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith [the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our faith to maturity], who for the joy [of accomplishing the goal] set before Him endured the cross, [a]disregarding the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God [revealing His deity, His authority, and the completion of His work].
Looking away from all that will distract us and focusing our eyes on Jesus who is the Author and Perfector of faith ….
What are those distractions from which we need to avert our 2022 eyes?
What are those divisions we need to set aside, from which we need to Unite?
How do we come together in the Gospel, to grapple with, to debate, to discuss, challenge comprehend, understand, teach, preach – God’s Joy in our Koinonia?
God’s Goal which is Koinonia – “for the Joy of the Lord which is before us …”?
We are the Body of Christ – We are the Church in the World,
For the “JOY OF THE LORD” which is ever BEFORE US ….
What are you and I building with our lives?
What keeps you and I motivated to stay on “God’s track?”
What will it look like when you and I finish it?
What are you and I “writing” with our faith, our hope and our “love”?
What will the final chapter of our lives look like because you and I have come together, eyes focused on Jesus alone, done what Jesus has asked us to do?
What is the specific joy that is set before you and me?
Is there any genuine strength in our Koinonia goal of “Joy of the Lord?”
Sometimes when you are working hard to do what God has asked you to do, it can seem overwhelming, but progress is gained one step at a time.
The increments of forward movement might seem tiny, but no matter how big or small the steps, you can know that you are inevitably progressing toward the goal that God has set for our lives.
When I was a young man of 41, God showed me the purpose of my life, and that purpose has been in front of me ever since.
In times of hardship, I’ve kept my eyes focused on that goal which God set before me, because fulfilling that divine purpose is what my life is all about.
Sometimes it seemed like all I could do was take baby steps — yet each step has been a step in the right direction. That’s the way I have lived these last twenty years focused, moving in the direction of the purpose God has revealed to me.
If you get your eyes off the goal, start focusing on how small your steps are along the way, it is probable you’ll get discouraged, give up before you arrive.
So today I want to encourage you to lift your eyes and look beyond to the joy, the victory, and the utter fulfillment of what God has planned for your life.
Even Jesus possessed a goal to help Him stay focused as He underwent intense suffering and hung on that Cross.
So today I exhort everyone who koinonias, by the leading of the Holy Spirit, to make a fresh consecration before the Lord to submit to His will for your lives.
Then exercise your authority in Jesus’ name and resist the devil (see James 4:7)!
And as you and I move forward in obedience to the Lord’s voice, keep our eyes of faith, hope and love fixed on the prize Jesus has set before both you and me.
That is what will sustain our determination to stay in God’s place and stay on God’s track until we can finally shout, we have reached our God-ordained goal!
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
At the starting line of this day, we call on your name, God of grace. As we run the race you have set before us, help us to keep our eyes on your goals, not our own. When we falter, give us fresh strength and courage. When we are fleet-footed, let us give you the glory. Keep us from wanting to win at other’s expense or to count ourselves better than those at our side. All runners are your children. In the race You imagine, each one is a winner. Alleluia! Amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 