Devotional:Look At Jesus:Hebrews 12:1-3

“For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Him, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:3, NASB).

At twelve o’clock midnight, December 31 ends and January 1 begins. “Out with the old and in with the new” is an often repeated sentiment. It sounds as if we expect things to change immediately. We do not want to carry the problems of the old year into the New Year. So we pray that God will change things. People testify that the Lord has brought them through the year in spite of the situations that they have been through. They trust God to be with them in the upcoming year. They expect changes in their circumstances. Although God can change things, it is more important that we pray that God will change us as we endure our circumstances.

Everything that we experience personally is something that people in the world has been experiencing since Cain killed his brother Abel (Genesis 4:8). God has not removed sin from the earth. God has been with His people as they live in a world in which sin and evil exist. In the bible we read about many characters that have endured trials and tribulations. They did not try to escape from the world. Rather, they trusted God to protect them from the evil that they saw around them. Because they recognized that they too were guilty of sin, they prayed that God would give them strength to overcome their faults and the abuse of their enemies.

The author of Hebrews tells us that our hope is in our faith in Jesus the Christ. In Hebrews 11, the author tells the story of the saints that have gone on before those that are being written to. These persons did not escape the troubles of the world. They did accomplish great things in spite of the strength of the opposition. They did not accomplish anything because of their own strength. Rather, the author makes it clear that it was by their faith that they were successful.

In our text, the author tells the saints that they have an example on how to endure trials and tribulations. Their enemies are prepared to destroy them, but they can endure the abuse. All that they need to do is fix their eyes on Jesus. He is the “author and perfecter of faith” (v. 2). He did not remove Himself from His circumstances. The world remains the same. If we look at Jesus and follow His example, we will not grow weary and lose heart. Do not focus on the things that we have to go through. Focus on Jesus, Look at Jesus.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we give thanks that we can look to you in our troubles. Amen