Devotionals for June 7, 2024
NLK Discipleship Camp is next week! Take time to pray for this!
READ
HEBREWS 12:1-3
"1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. *Because of the joy awaiting him,* he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. 3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.
"1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. *Because of the joy awaiting him,* he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. 3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.
REFLECT
So far this week we have considered God’s joy in creation, in salvation, in a unified church, and even in our trials. But certainly, God didn’t find joy in the crucifixion??
Hebrews 12:2 says He absolutely did - in fact, it was a joy that allowed him to endure the cross! And as we seek to persevere in our faith, we are called to keep our eyes on Him. This implies intentionality, a deliberate choice to focus our gaze on the one who has already run the race and emerged victorious.
Jesus, the ultimate example of faith, endured immense suffering for our sake. He faced betrayal, ridicule, torture, and ultimately, crucifixion. Yet, the scripture tells us He was able to do this because of the joy awaiting him. What was this joy? It wasn't a fleeting happiness, but a deep, abiding joy rooted in the knowledge that He was accomplishing something magnificent. His joy was the joy of reconciliation, the joy of redeeming humanity from sin and bringing broken, lost, and even dead people back to God.
Hebrews 12:2 says He absolutely did - in fact, it was a joy that allowed him to endure the cross! And as we seek to persevere in our faith, we are called to keep our eyes on Him. This implies intentionality, a deliberate choice to focus our gaze on the one who has already run the race and emerged victorious.
Jesus, the ultimate example of faith, endured immense suffering for our sake. He faced betrayal, ridicule, torture, and ultimately, crucifixion. Yet, the scripture tells us He was able to do this because of the joy awaiting him. What was this joy? It wasn't a fleeting happiness, but a deep, abiding joy rooted in the knowledge that He was accomplishing something magnificent. His joy was the joy of reconciliation, the joy of redeeming humanity from sin and bringing broken, lost, and even dead people back to God.
APPLY
Q: What allowed Jesus to endure through the cross? What are we called to focus on so that we can endure to the end of our own race?
Q: What are some weights that slow you down or sins that trip you up? What can you do today to strip them off?
Q: Do you know someone who seems burdened by present sin or even shame over past sin? Reach out to them today and remind them that Jesus loves them as they are and that he is the one who both initiates and perfects their faith.
Q: What are some weights that slow you down or sins that trip you up? What can you do today to strip them off?
Q: Do you know someone who seems burdened by present sin or even shame over past sin? Reach out to them today and remind them that Jesus loves them as they are and that he is the one who both initiates and perfects their faith.
SING
PRAY
"And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one."
Lord, carry me as you carried the cross, My every breath is yours to gain or lose. Holding onto your every word, I find my strength in you.
Lord, carry me as you carried the cross, My every breath is yours to gain or lose. Holding onto your every word, I find my strength in you.