Daily Reading: Hebrews 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, 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. (Hebrews 12.1-2)
Devotional Thought: Following up on the list of the heroes of The Faith, Hebrews 12 encourages not to focus on the wrong things:
Witnesses: Even though we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, we are not to focus on the crowd. They are watching us, but we must not watch them. It is true that people disappoint us, isn’t it? Even the very best have faults and failures. And, if we look long and hard enough, we will find them. That is just as true as those who have gone before us. Look back at that list in Hebrews 11. Some of those who made the Faith Hall of Fame did some pretty disappointing things. People aren’t perfect and are not a reliable guide to faith and practice.
Weight: We also are not to focus on the hindrances, problems and failures of life. Those things will entangle us in discouragement and defeat. When we fail, we must not dwell upon our failure, but confessing it, we must continue to run the race of faith.
Work: We are not even to watch the race marked out for us, focusing on the work at hand or the path to be navigated. While we do look at these things, we are not fixed on them. Too often we get bogged down in the mechanics and the details of our walk with God and we miss God himself!
Witnesses, weight, and work. All of these things will at one time or another have our attention. It would be foolish not to be aware of them. But, we fix our eyes on Jesus! He is the only One who will never lead us astray. He is the author and perfecter of our faith. He is the perfect way!
Prayer: Lord, you are the only sure and certain thing we can focus on. Help us to lay aside everything else and run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to you. Amen.
Psalm of the Day: Psalm 55:9-15
9 Lord, confuse the wicked, confound their words, for I see violence and strife in the city.
10 Day and night they prowl about on its walls; malice and abuse are within it.
11 Destructive forces are at work in the city; threats and lies never leave its streets.
12 If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were rising against me, I could hide.
13 But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend,
14 with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship at the house of God, as we walked about among the worshipers.
15 Let death take my enemies by surprise; let them go down alive to the realm of the dead, for evil finds lodging among them.
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