Let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Hebrews 12:1-2

 

Pick up any self-help book, and you’ll find it’s just that–a description of how you can help yourself. Everyone has room for improvement. But there’s a limit to the changes we’re capable of making to ourselves.

In the Old Testament of the Bible, God gave people His laws for living. But rather than being a code of ways people could perfect themselves, God’s laws revealed man’s sinfulness and pointed out the limits of our own efforts at self-improvement. God’s laws also set the stage for His intervention, for His gift of Jesus and hope for humanity. Jesus took what should have been our punishment for our sins. He also revealed that we can only experience peace, joy and strength by following His example! We come to know Jesus and be strengthened by the Holy Spirit when we live a lifestyle of what scripture calls “keeping our eyes on Jesus,” just as a runner in a race fixes their gaze on where they want to go.

Too many people have learned only enough about Jesus to choose to follow Him and receive His forgiveness. But then their eyes are right back on themselves. The Bible says, “Let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2).

One wise follower of Jesus pointed out that, “The only source of health and strength to the Church is the knowledge of Christ Jesus.”[1] When we make a lifestyle of talking to Jesus, worshipping Him and reading God’s words every day, He’ll make the needed improvements in our lives. We’re limited but He’s not.

[1] Murray, Andrew. The Holiest of All. Fleming H. Revell Company, 1894, p. 25.