Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk from your lips. Let your
eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths
for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or
to the left; keep your foot from evil. ~Proverbs 4:24-27
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who, for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ~Hebrews 12:1-2
“Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”
We have an interesting challenge as Christians. We do best when we look straight ahead and focus on Him. Yet, we are also called to be His hands and feet and notice the needs around us. How do we stay focused on Him and aware of others at the same time without getting pulled off course? It is a tough balancing act, but I believe it is accomplished through prayer.
I look to Jesus Himself as my example. Jesus was very aware of His mission. He was also very aware of the needs around Him. I believe that He stayed centered through prayer. It’s interesting how often it is mentioned that Jesus went off, by Himself, to pray. I’m sure that walking among us gave Him many things to talk with His Father about. I’m sure it helped Him stay focused on His purpose and calling, along with His need for comfort and encouragement.
Jesus had to remember that His mission wasn’t to try to win arguments with the religious. His mission wasn’t just to heal those He came in contact with. His mission wasn’t to train twelve men in the wisdom of God. His real mission was the cross, for the purpose of salvation itself. I’m sure that prayer helped Him refocus on that after a tough day of feeding, healing and arguing with those He loved.
What is our calling? That needs to be our main focus. We need to keep our eyes ahead, focused on Him and not allow ourselves to get distracted by lesser things. Jesus did care for the needs around Him, but He kept His goal in view. Maybe it’s like our meeting people’s needs at the Good Neighbor Food Pantry. Yes, there is a need for food, but when we talked about starting the pantry it was never our plan just to fill stomachs. In the foundation of our plan was built the idea to build relationships in the hopes of earning the right to lead others to Christ. Our hope was never to stop at meeting the perceived need, but to push on to be able to meet the real need of the heart.
The writer of Hebrews describes it as if we are in a race, surrounded by others who are cheering us on as we run. Who are those cheering? Those who have run before. Those mentioned in Hebrews 11 for one thing, but the writer says there is a great cloud of witnesses, who have already run their race and completed their mission, encouraging us to do the same. Think about it, Moses and Abraham are cheering us on, with Jesus leading the pack, easy for us to see if we keep looking ahead and don’t get distracted by mundane things.
I’m reminded of an example from the Chronicles of Narnia again involving a boy named Shasta. Shasta has already done amazing things; escaped captivity, crossed a desert, faced a lion, tried to rescue his traveling companion and, just when he helps everyone else to safety and thinks he can take a well deserved rest, he is told to keep running because his mission has not yet been completed. He is told to look straight ahead and just keep running. Exhausted, all he can do is move forward saying, “run, run, always run.” Sometimes, it probably feels like that’s all we can do too. Just keep placing that one foot in front of the other and “run, run, always run.” We’re tired, we’re drained, but we’re being cheered for and look, Christ is in front of us, and beside us, and behind us. Just stay focused on the mission! Keep looking to Jesus, and look, when you meet the needs of the least of these all around us, your eyes ARE on Him!
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who, for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ~Hebrews 12:1-2
“Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”
We have an interesting challenge as Christians. We do best when we look straight ahead and focus on Him. Yet, we are also called to be His hands and feet and notice the needs around us. How do we stay focused on Him and aware of others at the same time without getting pulled off course? It is a tough balancing act, but I believe it is accomplished through prayer.
I look to Jesus Himself as my example. Jesus was very aware of His mission. He was also very aware of the needs around Him. I believe that He stayed centered through prayer. It’s interesting how often it is mentioned that Jesus went off, by Himself, to pray. I’m sure that walking among us gave Him many things to talk with His Father about. I’m sure it helped Him stay focused on His purpose and calling, along with His need for comfort and encouragement.
Jesus had to remember that His mission wasn’t to try to win arguments with the religious. His mission wasn’t just to heal those He came in contact with. His mission wasn’t to train twelve men in the wisdom of God. His real mission was the cross, for the purpose of salvation itself. I’m sure that prayer helped Him refocus on that after a tough day of feeding, healing and arguing with those He loved.
What is our calling? That needs to be our main focus. We need to keep our eyes ahead, focused on Him and not allow ourselves to get distracted by lesser things. Jesus did care for the needs around Him, but He kept His goal in view. Maybe it’s like our meeting people’s needs at the Good Neighbor Food Pantry. Yes, there is a need for food, but when we talked about starting the pantry it was never our plan just to fill stomachs. In the foundation of our plan was built the idea to build relationships in the hopes of earning the right to lead others to Christ. Our hope was never to stop at meeting the perceived need, but to push on to be able to meet the real need of the heart.
The writer of Hebrews describes it as if we are in a race, surrounded by others who are cheering us on as we run. Who are those cheering? Those who have run before. Those mentioned in Hebrews 11 for one thing, but the writer says there is a great cloud of witnesses, who have already run their race and completed their mission, encouraging us to do the same. Think about it, Moses and Abraham are cheering us on, with Jesus leading the pack, easy for us to see if we keep looking ahead and don’t get distracted by mundane things.
I’m reminded of an example from the Chronicles of Narnia again involving a boy named Shasta. Shasta has already done amazing things; escaped captivity, crossed a desert, faced a lion, tried to rescue his traveling companion and, just when he helps everyone else to safety and thinks he can take a well deserved rest, he is told to keep running because his mission has not yet been completed. He is told to look straight ahead and just keep running. Exhausted, all he can do is move forward saying, “run, run, always run.” Sometimes, it probably feels like that’s all we can do too. Just keep placing that one foot in front of the other and “run, run, always run.” We’re tired, we’re drained, but we’re being cheered for and look, Christ is in front of us, and beside us, and behind us. Just stay focused on the mission! Keep looking to Jesus, and look, when you meet the needs of the least of these all around us, your eyes ARE on Him!
Prayer: Thank you Lord for all the encouragement of faith. I have a very positive goal and my hope is certain. So, as long as I persevere in obedience and ministry, I can make a positive difference on earth while headed for glory! I will press on! I can't imagine anything more rewarding. You are worth everything! In Jesus' name, amen.
Hymn: Saint Patrick’s hymn: “Christ Be Beside Me”
Hymn: Saint Patrick’s hymn: “Christ Be Beside Me”
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