Hebrews 12
Run the race that's been marked out. Run it. Put my whole body, mind, and spirit into this race path that the Lord has me on ("run with perseverance"~vs. 1). I know that because God has me running this path, it's going to look different from others running, too--even different from those who are closest in proximity to me (friends, family). The temptation would be to see them turn a corner and want to follow them, taking my eyes off of Jesus and where He's leading.
When I do that, frustration, discontentment, jealousy, sometimes anger, and sadness inevitably begin to set in, because my path is becoming darker and darker by the step since it's no longer illuminated by my Glorious Light. He has not left me to stumble in the mess I've made, though--He's been right there with me as I've traveled this deviated path, and gently reminds me of His ever-present Help as He stops me long enough to gaze at Him. It's here I find complete and utter peace, restoration, and a deep sense of knowing that this is exactly Who I long to be with forever.
Conviction from His Spirit sends me running once again into His open arms, and I am captivated by my Lord's love for me. He takes my hand and brings me out of the wrong direction and back in step with Him, my eyes fixed on my ever-so-present Lord and Savior once more.
When that temptation to throw in the towel comes (because it will and has), I'm not to take my eyes off of Jesus for one second.
Why?
Because He's overcome every single struggle I will ever encounter in this life. His blood put them to DEATH, and their hold on mankind is limited only to those without the salvation through faith that's found in Jesus.
"Consider Him Who endured such great opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." (vs. 3)
When I am consumed with HIM, I won't even get to the place of wanting to throw in the towel!! "Consider Him...so that you will not grow weary and lose heart"!
Before allowing myself to get to that point of being absolutely run down, I make the conscious decision to FIX my entire being on Jesus and what He's endured for my sake. Being Gospel-minded/centered isn't for show or what we're "supposed" to do as believers; it's literally our saving grace.
Run the race.
Fix your gaze.
Consider Him.
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
See Ya Later, Safe!
I LOVE Hebrews 11 because it gives us such a clear picture of what faith looks like. I've seriously been reading and studying this particular chapter for 3 days now, and I'm STILL not done soaking it all in! There's just soooo much here...
Basically, to start off, vs. 8 caught my eye. Abraham's journey of faith literally takes him and his family to a brand new city, but does he make excuses? Nope...he doesn't know the reasons WHY God chooses to bring him here, BUT:
he "obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going."
Why did he do this?! Why leave the familiar? The safe? The comfortable??
"He was looking FORWARD to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God." (vs. 10)
*"LOOKING FORWARD"! This implies 2 things:
1. He's not looking anywhere else but to what's just ahead of him, which God has already sovereignly prepared. Though he can't physically see it yet, his faith gives him eyes to see and understand: the Lord's ways are higher. Better. Perfect.
2. Hope is abundant! Abraham isn't moping around, wishing away for days past where he lived in a familiar town (his home)...he's actually the complete opposite. Fueled by a hope that God clearly brought him here, Abraham looks forward to what God is doing and is about to do...knowing, too, that BECAUSE God brought him to this place, he will also USE him.
It's an exciting thing to dwell on and look forward to...what's more? There's even a hint of Abraham looking beyond this world and into the next, thanks to his faith...looking forward to the future restoration of earth, when sin is gone and Jesus reigns. How's THAT for something to look forward to? :)
*Interesting side note: he was able to have this time to "look forward" because of the POSITION God placed him in!!! He, in a brand new city, a bit out of comfort range, sees CLEARLY the prize which we are all one day going to experience as children of our Heavenly Father. Abraham is in the PERFECT position to see and gain hope from this truth...no chance. No coincidence.
Just faith.
See ya later, safe. :)
Basically, to start off, vs. 8 caught my eye. Abraham's journey of faith literally takes him and his family to a brand new city, but does he make excuses? Nope...he doesn't know the reasons WHY God chooses to bring him here, BUT:
he "obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going."
Why did he do this?! Why leave the familiar? The safe? The comfortable??
"He was looking FORWARD to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God." (vs. 10)
*"LOOKING FORWARD"! This implies 2 things:
1. He's not looking anywhere else but to what's just ahead of him, which God has already sovereignly prepared. Though he can't physically see it yet, his faith gives him eyes to see and understand: the Lord's ways are higher. Better. Perfect.
2. Hope is abundant! Abraham isn't moping around, wishing away for days past where he lived in a familiar town (his home)...he's actually the complete opposite. Fueled by a hope that God clearly brought him here, Abraham looks forward to what God is doing and is about to do...knowing, too, that BECAUSE God brought him to this place, he will also USE him.
It's an exciting thing to dwell on and look forward to...what's more? There's even a hint of Abraham looking beyond this world and into the next, thanks to his faith...looking forward to the future restoration of earth, when sin is gone and Jesus reigns. How's THAT for something to look forward to? :)
*Interesting side note: he was able to have this time to "look forward" because of the POSITION God placed him in!!! He, in a brand new city, a bit out of comfort range, sees CLEARLY the prize which we are all one day going to experience as children of our Heavenly Father. Abraham is in the PERFECT position to see and gain hope from this truth...no chance. No coincidence.
Just faith.
See ya later, safe. :)
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Waiting
"He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him." ~Hebrews 9:28
"Those who are waiting for Him"--again, Scripture references waiting as a necessary phase of life to go through if I desire to see the Lord and all He has for me. He's training me in this in the smaller things so that as I begin to learn and trust the art of waiting with these, I can continue to learn to wait for the ultimate Promise of Jesus' return and eternal life
f o r e v e r with Him.
He's blessing me with opportunities to practice waiting! Blessing me with no immediate reveal of answers in situations. His coming is not an immediate answer, so true preparation for this shouldn't be either.
Hellooo, new and completely different outlook!
And where does it all point back to?
Jesus, my High Priest! (go read all of Hebrews 8-10...beautiful portrayal of grace!)
"Those who are waiting for Him"--again, Scripture references waiting as a necessary phase of life to go through if I desire to see the Lord and all He has for me. He's training me in this in the smaller things so that as I begin to learn and trust the art of waiting with these, I can continue to learn to wait for the ultimate Promise of Jesus' return and eternal life
f o r e v e r with Him.
He's blessing me with opportunities to practice waiting! Blessing me with no immediate reveal of answers in situations. His coming is not an immediate answer, so true preparation for this shouldn't be either.
Hellooo, new and completely different outlook!
And where does it all point back to?
Jesus, my High Priest! (go read all of Hebrews 8-10...beautiful portrayal of grace!)
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Rest
Rest.
It's a word our culture doesn't really heed very often, let alone experience on a regular basis. "Go, go go" is our mentality, and slowing down is typically associated with weakness.
Here's my question: whereeeee in the world did this come from?! Definitely not from the Lord, that's for sure..I've been studying Hebrews 4 recently; He's been teaching me what true "rest" looks like and how to enter in..
Communion with the Father...the most intimate of settings/relationships...this is rest. To be in the very presence of my King and Creator whenever and wherever I am...beholding Beauty itself. And everything that seems to weigh with such heavy importance in the world really does start "to grow strangely dim in this light of HIS glory and grace."
I enter in with FAITH! Faith, faith, faith, faith, faith...easier said than done, but truly abandoning all unbelief and running towards the Father in this way is FREEING and beautiful and perfect.
His rest is ready today! My prayer: rid me of unbelief (anything that's holding me back from completely running into Your arms, Lord); replace it with faith. I want to continue stepping into a life that shouts, "less of me; more of YOU!" Thank You for Your promise of rest, Lord. Let's enter in...today and every day!
It's a word our culture doesn't really heed very often, let alone experience on a regular basis. "Go, go go" is our mentality, and slowing down is typically associated with weakness.
Here's my question: whereeeee in the world did this come from?! Definitely not from the Lord, that's for sure..I've been studying Hebrews 4 recently; He's been teaching me what true "rest" looks like and how to enter in..
Communion with the Father...the most intimate of settings/relationships...this is rest. To be in the very presence of my King and Creator whenever and wherever I am...beholding Beauty itself. And everything that seems to weigh with such heavy importance in the world really does start "to grow strangely dim in this light of HIS glory and grace."
I enter in with FAITH! Faith, faith, faith, faith, faith...easier said than done, but truly abandoning all unbelief and running towards the Father in this way is FREEING and beautiful and perfect.
His rest is ready today! My prayer: rid me of unbelief (anything that's holding me back from completely running into Your arms, Lord); replace it with faith. I want to continue stepping into a life that shouts, "less of me; more of YOU!" Thank You for Your promise of rest, Lord. Let's enter in...today and every day!
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