Hebrews 12:1b-2a
Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.
“The point is to keep your eyes fixed on the finishing line and on the one who is at the center of the cloud of witnesses, waiting there to greet you himself. Jesus… pioneered the way, opened up the course and brought it to a successful completion. He made it across the finishing line, and [he is] the central motivation for us to continue in hope, faith and patience.”
(Wright, Nicholas Thomas. Hebrews for Everyone, p. 150)
2 Corinthians 3:16, 4:6
…Whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
…God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.
Our faith started when we turned to the Lord and saw Jesus! It didn’t come from looking at ourselves, or at the world, but from looking to Jesus. When we turned, he removed the veil, opened our eyes, opened our hearts, and gave us the gift of faith to see and believe in him, and to act upon that faith. By his Holy Spirit, we called upon him for salvation. And he answered us!
In God-given faith, we can ask for this to happen in others’ lives, while we go where he has called us.
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for opening our eyes to see and place our trust in Jesus. Would you move in your love and power in the lives of those that you have given us, turning them to you. Please declare over their lives, “Let light shine out of darkness!” and cause them to see Jesus. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
– BR