Who keeps an eye on you? Who is watching your activities? Do you remember parents, sitters, siblings or friends checking on you? Usually, when you’re under inspection or have an audience you try harder or, at least, your behavior is better. I remember my father talking about Hebrews and the passage which precedes the challenge in today’s devotion. He loved this section, as do I, because of the heroes of the faith it enumerates. Those heroes could sound like a crowd in judgment if this was a passage on its own, but it isn’t really about somebody inspecting or judging you. It was all about the fact that the crowd had gone before you and led the way in faith.
With the encouragement of their example of faith before us, we know we haven’t and won’t be alone. More importantly, believers have the ultimate model and witness in our lives, Jesus. We have commands in these verses to lay aside the things that hold us back in our faith, especially sin, and to live with the endurance it takes to exercise faith for the whole time we have here. We are not left to figure it out on our own if we fix our eyes on Jesus keeping him as the ultimate example and goal.
With the author and perfecter of faith, our faith, we go forward day by day keeping our eyes on Him. We also have the crowd of witnesses that have gone before and have shown us through their lives and actions that He is faithful. Jesus dealt with opposition, persecution and betrayal and withstood it all, including the test of taking our sin to give us hope and life. As the great crowd of witnesses, we are meant to go forward in faith with the hope, knowledge and joy Jesus’ work brings to us. In this Lenten season, bow before Him, see Him and His example and work. In joy, do not grow weary or lose heart.
For reflection:
- How will you concentrate on the work of Jesus this season, both what He did for you and what He is doing in your life now?
- How do you think that effort will bring you closer to Him in the endurance of your faith?
by David Bier
Recommended Posts
A New Ordinary
March 30, 2024
Practice: Examen
March 29, 2024
A Good Friday
March 28, 2024