THURSDAY APRIL 21, 2022

REMAINING FOCUSED IN THE MIDST OF STORMS

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 12:1-4.

Exposition

Athletes in an athletic competition cannot be distracted by peripheral objects. As runners in the Christian race, we must fix our eyes on Jesus, who is our perfect and ultimate example of faith. Many were the things he had to go through in order to fulfil His purpose on earth.

Just like believers of the old, contemporary believers are faced with different challenges in their Christian race.

As we run, we must remain focused on Christ. He is more than our example; He is our final destination. We must run to Him with all our might, in the promise that we will be conformed to His image. Hebrews 12:2 says that Jesus is the “pioneer” of our faith. He is the one who blazed the trail and the one who made the way into the Holy of Holies so that the rest of us could follow into God’s presence. Jesus is the perfecter of our faith, thus, the one who brought it to completion. He did not just start it; He finished it!

It’s so easy when times are hard to lose our focus from the things that are really important or the tasks that we need to accomplish. This is one of the traps the enemy uses to entangle us; by putting other things in our life to break our focus and to make us lose sight of our goal. Just as Jesus kept focused on the cross and did not allow what He was going through to distract Him, so must we keep focus.

Beloved, the race we are running is probably more like a military- style obstacle course than a nice and neat Olympic race. There are real dangers along the way, but we must keep moving forward. We have the examples of past saints to follow, but our supreme example is Jesus Himself, the one who blazed the way, finished the race, paid for our sins, and is now seated in the place of highest honour and authority. We look to Him, not only as our example but as our source of strength.

Prayer Guide: Oh Lord! Please help me to be true example of you.

MEMORY VERSE FOR THIS WEEK:

John 15:5 (NIV) – “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”