Keeping Your Eyes On Jesus Hebrews 12:2 Devotional

In this Hebrews 12:2 Devotional, we’ll explore the meaning behind this powerful verse, focusing on how it encourages us to keep our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. We’ll take a close look at its rich biblical insights found and uncover the life-changing truths that can help us navigate the race of life with endurance, perseverance, and unwavering faith. Together, we’ll see how keeping our focus on Christ transforms our Christian life and empowers us to overcome any obstacles that come our way.

Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus

Do you ever have doubts about your salvation, wonder if God has truly forgiven you, or get distracted by shiny objects on your journey of faith?

The book of Hebrews was written specifically for anyone who feels this way. And guess what… we all do!

Losing sight of Jesus and all He’s done for us is a common problem among Christians. We don’t mean to take our eyes off of Jesus, it just happens. But the most amazing thing is, God understands, and He’s given this book of the Bible for these moments. The truth found in Hebrews 12:2 is key for maintaining our faith, so let’s read this encouraging scripture from the Word of God together.

looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:2

This verse is a guiding light for all Christians, reminding us to turn away from the darkness of the world and the distractions that pull us in so many different directions. Instead we should look to our Savior and the the good things He has in store for us. Because when we fix our eyes on the Lord Jesus Christ and focus on living a life of faith, everything else falls into perspective. The weight of the world, the stress, the worry, the anxiety inside of us all fade in comparison to the peace and joy that come from walking closely with Christ.

What is the Meaning of Hebrews 12:2?

Hebrews 12:2 is a beautiful reminder that Jesus is both the “author and perfecter of our faith.” But what does that really mean? The author of Hebrews uses the imagery of a race to encourage believers in our faith. Jesus is the perfect example of someone who has run the race of life with perseverance and endurance, and He completed His journey victoriously conquering death and sin.

As the author of faith, Jesus is the one who initiated the journey. He laid the foundation for our faith by living a life of perfect obedience to God’s will. As the perfecter of faith, He not only demonstrated what true faith looks like but also completed it by fulfilling God’s plan of salvation through His death and resurrection. Through His agony of the cross, Jesus brought our faith to its perfect completion giving us the gift of eternal life.

Jesus endured the shame of the cross because of the joy of knowing that His sacrifice would give us salvation. He looked beyond the immediate suffering to the joy set before Him, the reconciliation of humanity to God. And now, having completed His earthly mission, He is seated at the right hand of the throne of God, in the place of honor, victorious and reigning forever.

Why Did Jesus Die on the Cross?

Do you wonder… Why did Jesus die on the cross?

The simple answer is, He died for you! You’re the reason Jesus endured the agony of the cross. He died because He loves you and He wants to spend eternity with you. And through His death and resurrection, Jesus has set you free from sin!

So, focus your eyes on Jesus and trust in Him. He has already done the hard part. All we have to do is believe.

If you still have questions about what it means to accept Jesus as your Savior, please read this short article about accepting Jesus as your Savior and learn how He will change your life forever.

Running the Race of Faith

The Christian life is often compared to a race. It requires discipline, perseverance, and focus. As we run this race of faith, we’re surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, those who have gone before us and lived their lives in faith. These great men and women of faith, found in the hall of faith in Hebrews 11, offer us examples of what it means to trust God through all circumstances.

But just like a serious runner keeps their eyes on the finish line, we must also keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, who is the goal and ultimate example for our faith. It’s easy to become distracted by our daily lives and all of the material things that demand our attention. But when we lose sight of Christ, we easily become discouraged. That’s why it’s so important to keep looking to Jesus, who has already run the race and secured the victory for us.

The Power of the Holy Spirit in Our Race

The power of the Holy Spirit is vital as we run our own race. We can’t endure the tough times we face by relying solely on our own strength. It’s through the help of the Holy Spirit that we’re able to continue running with perseverance. The Spirit strengthens us, encourages us, and empowers us to grow in faith as we keep our eyes on Jesus.

The race will be long and filled with challenges, but we can trust in God’s promise to carry us through. Just as Jesus persevered for the sake of the joy that awaited Him, we can endure the difficulties of life knowing that we have a promise of eternal life waiting for us in heaven.

God’s Right Hand is Guiding Us

God’s hand is always present in our lives, guiding us through every step of the journey. In Hebrews 12:2, we’re reminded that Jesus is seated at the right hand of God, signifying not only His authority but also His place of honor. As believers, we can rest in the assurance that we’re held in the loving hand of God. His hand isn’t distant or removed from us, it’s close and active in our daily lives, offering us protection, guidance, and strength.

When we feel overwhelmed or unsure of how to continue, we can trust that God’s hand is leading us. As the ever-present lover of our souls, God’s hand is with us, whether we’re facing significant hours of deep darkness or walking in the light of His grace.

Why We Must Endure

Running the race of life isn’t always easy. There will be times when we face trials, temptations, and our own human nature. But just as Jesus endured the cross, we’re called to persevere in our faith. The chastening of the Lord mentioned in Hebrews 12 isn’t meant to discourage us but to refine us, producing the peaceable fruit of righteousness in our lives.

God is a loving Father who allows us to go through hardships, not to harm us, but to shape us into His image. Through these trials, we experience spiritual growth and become recipients of His holiness. As we run with endurance, we must keep our eyes on Jesus, trusting that He’s with us every step of the way, shaping us into the people He’s called us to be.

The Joy of Knowing Jesus

The greatest blessings of the Christian faith is the joy of knowing Jesus. Even in the middle of hard times, we can find joy in our relationship with Him. Jesus Himself endured the cross because of the joy set before Him, and that same joy is available to us as we walk with Him.

Knowing Jesus means living with the assurance that we’re loved, forgiven, and free. It means living in the light of His grace, knowing that our ultimate destination is with Him in heaven. The finish line of our faith is eternal life with Jesus, where we’ll be in His presence forever.

Following the Perfect Example

Jesus is the perfect example of faith and endurance. He ran the race before us and completed it with great victory. As we live out our faith each day, we look to Him as our ultimate example. He shows us how to trust in God, how to endure trials, and how to live a life of obedience to our Heavenly Father.

We can follow Jesus’ example by keeping our eyes on Him, running with endurance, and trusting in the grace of God to carry us through. He has already done the hard part. He endured the cross, despising the shame, and now sits at the right hand of the throne of God. All we have to do is believe in His precious name and follow Him.

The Goal of Our Faith

The goal of our faith isn’t just to endure through life’s challenges but to ultimately be united with Jesus Christ, the Son of God in eternity. Our faith journey is leading us toward a greater purpose, one that goes beyond the struggles of this world. God’s Word reminds us that our life here on earth is temporary, but our eternal life with Jesus is our final destination. When we fix our eyes on Him, we’re running toward the promise of everlasting life, where we’ll experience the fullness of God’s presence and His incredible love.

This goal gives us hope and perseverance to keep running the race, knowing that at the finish line, we’ll be with Jesus forever. It’s not about achieving perfection in this world but about being perfected in Christ, the perfecter of our faith. We’re striving toward the day when our faith will be made complete, and we’ll dwell with the Lord in the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the Living God.

Each step we take in faith brings us closer to that glorious day when we’ll hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Until then, the goal of our faith is to continue trusting Jesus, growing in our relationship with Him, and living out our faith in a way that brings glory to God. Keep running your race with your eyes on Jesus, knowing that He’s waiting at the finish line with open arms, ready to welcome you into the joy of His eternal presence.

Running the Race with Endurance

As you reflect on this Hebrews 12:2 Devotional, remember that keeping your eyes on Jesus is the key to enduring the race of faith. He’s the author and finisher of our faith, the One who initiated and completed the work of salvation on our behalf. He endured the shame of the cross for the joy set before Him, and now He sits in the place of honor at the right hand of God.

So, in your Christian life, when you face challenges, distractions, or hardships, look to Jesus. He’s the One who will strengthen your faith, carry you through, and lead you to the finish line with joy. Keep your eyes on Him, and run your race with perseverance, knowing that you’re held in the loving hand of God.