Where are You Looking?

Hebrews 12:2 "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

What do you do when life tries your strength?  Where do you turn when it seems like there is no one beside you along the way?  How can you ever manage to make it through one more day when you can't stand your job or the classes you are in or the person you wake up to every day?  And how can you ever be sure God is with you if you can't even see his face?

Fix your eyes on Jesus.  This sounds pretty elementary or laughable at times, doesn't it?  It appears as if the Lord views my trials and struggles as if they are trivial.  He hasn't answered my prayers lately, and he hasn't seemed to show himself in my situation.  So how can he ask me to fix my eyes on Jesus? 

Read verse 3.  "Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."  Jesus is our example and our hope.  If he did conquered, and he is living in me now, then I too can conquer.  If he endured for me, why can't I endure for him?  Verse 2 tells us that for the JOY set before Christ, he endured one of the most painful, brutal deaths imaginable. 

Did you read that? Let me put it this way... YOU ARE HIS JOY!  You can be sure God is in your situation because Christ endured the cross for you.  When you feel like you can't make it through, be encouraged that Christ walked from the Garden of Gethsemane all the way to Calvary because he knew who he was dying for.  If you think you are unable to make it through one more day, fix your eyes on Jesus, our beautiful, loving, gracious Savior who endured a cross to save you.  You can make it through that job, that class, your marriage, whatever your struggle is with JOY as you fix your eyes on him who joyously endured death for you.  So where are you looking? May you look to Christ, the author and perfecter of your faith even when it seems like there is no one else to look to.