Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus

“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, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” ~ Hebrews 12:1-3

This last week at church we were studying Exodus 2- where Moses, seemingly from good intentions wanted to use his position (as Pharaoh’s daughter) to help his people (the Hebrews). He did it his way (by killing an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew man) and it didn’t go so well for him.

Moses knew his calling (delivering the Hebrew people from the Egyptians) right from the get-go it seems, but he tried to do it his own way rather than waiting and listening to God’s way.  But it was a great reminder that our way is often not God’s way and even our good intentions to fulfill the calling God’s given us can cause damage.

This thought was a bit sobering and overwhelming. How do we know God’s way? How do we not mess things up like Moses? Well, first, luckily God uses our shortcomings in his greater plan- Moses’ murder sent him to Midian and allowed the right length of time to pass before God enacted his plan, with Moses, to set his people free.

Second, Pastor Silver led us to this verse-

“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, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” ~ Hebrews 12:1-3

The answer to knowing God’s way rather than our way is fixing our eyes on Jesus. How do we do that?

1. Praying. Do I pray and ask God to work and give me wisdom in all areas of my life or just the ones outside my control?
2. Studying God’s Word. Am I studying God’s word to know his character and how he’s acted in the past?

Although these are the basic Sunday School answers, the questions above have a bit more punch and conviction to them, at least for me. I realized my prayers were shallow and only about things I can’t fix myself. I realized my study of the Word wasn’t to know God better but to find the catchphrase, moral or application I could apply to my life like a self-help book.

I’d been wrestling with a few things in the previous weeks wondering what to do, what the ‘fix’ was. And as always, it was this very basic phrase, “Fix your eyes on Jesus.” That’s it, but that’s all! This simple imperative I truly believe works in all situations. I’ll show you why next week.