Tuesday, April 30, 2013

LOOKING UNTO JESUS 4






Heb 12:1-2

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
NKJV

Every serious athlete runs with his focus on the price or medal or cup. He does not run and spend his focus on the spectators or on anything else but the price.
God told Abraham in Genesis 15:1 “Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward”

Jesus who is God come to humans (God that we can look unto and see) is the reward and exceeding great; ultimate reward of our race.
Think briefly of when Jacob worked so hard to marry Rachael, she was the reward for all his hard work for Laban.
God was pleased with Abraham to the point that He wanted to reward Him with the greatest thing that there is to reward in the whole of existence- God. So God rewarded Abraham with Himself. (Some people have gold and diamonds but you have God; the creator of gold, diamond and every other thing).

The author and finisher:   Jesus is the one who started the race and He is the one who will end it. He is the creator of the race. He endured. He loved, He was humble, He prayed, He fasted, studied the scriptures, he retreated.
We need to look unto Him and learn from His life.


Prayer: Dear heavenly father, I thank you for the grace you have given me to be your own, I thank you for helping me on this race of life so far. I pray that you help me to the end, in Jesus name. Amen



Monday, April 29, 2013

LOOKING UNTO JESUS 3




Heb 12:1-2

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
NKJV

What does He mean when He says we should run with endurance: He is comparing our (Christian) life with athletes who are running a race on a track; the spectators are referred to here as the crowd of witnesses who were introduced in Hebrews 11.; they are those who through faith walked with God and obtained a place in His kingdom. They are those who have run a similar race to that you are running right now; they have lived in this world and have experienced similar things to what you are experiencing.
So the race we are to run with endurance is our life here on earth under God.
The reason why He instructs you to run this race with endurance is because like e every race, there is sometimes the tendency to want to give up and quit. You should know that it’s a race and not a stroll so there is a price.

Love is the greatest

Broadcast 3976 Click here for the audio version: https://streamglobe.org/aud3976 1 John 3:18 (NIV) Dear children, let us not love with words...