FOCUS FOR IMPACT (3)

“Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was SET BEFORE HIM endured the cross...” – Hebrews 12:2a

Our Lord Jesus Christ epitomized FOCUS for IMPACT: “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” (Heb.12: 2). There was a Joy set before our Messiah! This passage of scripture uses the metaphor of a race to describe the Christian Life, the Journey of Destiny, urging us who believe to “run with endurance the race that is set before us” (v.1b). The key message is the call to fix our eyes on Jesus, the Pioneer an Perfecter of faith (v.2, NIV).

Jesus is our Model. When we focus on Him as He focused on the Crown beyond the Cross, we’ll overcome the challenges and pains right before the “great cloud of witnesses” – the saints of Hebrews 11; the heroes of the faith! Like it is in a stadium, we are surrounded, encircled; we have a cheering section that is pushing and motivating us along. And even more than cheerleaders, they modeled the race; they did the very act before us and showed us how to run the race. Surely, if they could hold fast, then we can as well. But we must throw off everything that hinders performance and the sin that so easily entangles.

In order to stay focused on Jesus, we must be willing to shed extra weight, get rid of distractions that may tend to pull us back or away from running the race, and the sin that could make us miss the mark! Jesus went to the cross, a brutal and horrific death, yet He had a Joy set before Him. Jesus conquered death. He brought us Victory, destroying shame and guilt. There is nothing we will face in the world, nothing in our circumstances that will ever compare to what our Lord did, even with the Joy set before Him. We need to put all struggles, trials, and pains in perspective, and become real: “For consider Him who endures such hostility from sinners against Himself lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls” (v.3).

Hebrews 12:2 is a profound reminder of the centrality of Jesus Christ in the life of a Believer. By fixing our eyes on Him, the Author and Finisher of our Faith, we find the strength to endure and overcome trials, the courage to face and defeat shame, and the Hope of Glory! We are called to a life of unwavering Focus on Jesus, drawing inspiration from His Example and relying on His ongoing Presence and Power. Beloved, let us take on the challenge of fixing our eyes on Jesus. Let us examine our life, our mind, our heart, service and ministry to see what might be distracting us from that singular focus and make amends!