"....Let us lay aside every weight,..looking unto Jesus...." (From Hebrews 12:1, 2)
Or, "to look away from all else," and, "to see distinctly."
Whatever and whomever we are, as the NIV says, "fixing our eyes upon," whatever dominates our thinking, planning, books, work, churches services------ is our god. Too many today "Practice the presence of" whatever they like the most, whatever others tell them we should be "looking unto."
I found it quite interesting this time, considering our text, that the conclusion of chapter 12 to the "great hall of faith" in chapter 11 is to place the emphasis of our, "looking unto," not in the "heroes" of the faith, but rather, "the Author and Finisher," or, "the Pioneer and Perfecter," literally, "of the faith," Jesus. There is sort of a look-at-what-they-did emphasis today rather than look at what Jesus did/is doing, Who He IS!
What/who are you "looking unto" today? What "Christian life style" seems to "speak to you" the most? Hebrews 3:1 tells us, "....Carefully consider Jesus...." If we do not, some other "carefully consider" will take over.
Father, in Jesus' Name, I have too often "carefully considered" too many other things. Teach me this most precious, "....carefully consider...." Amen.
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
Hebrews 12:2
Hebrews 12:2
