#447 How to Never Give Up Hebrews 12.1-2 Part 2
So what makes it possible to persevere and never give up?
Looking unto Jesus: attentively consider him, as the Leader and Completer of your faith.
He is the Master of Faith.
The proof of this is how his faith triumphed even on the cross.
“Who for the joy set before him endured the cross, despising [to disesteem] the shame.
The shame and agony was his experience, but he did not focus on the shame.
He made the shame little.
He was honest about the shame and the distress in prayer, as Psalm 22 suggests.
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning?” Psalm 22:1
But he was also honest about Who His Father was.
“But you are enthroned as the Holy One,
You are the praise of Israel.
In you our fathers put their trust;
They trusted and you delivered them.” Psalm 22:3-4
“Who for the joy set before him, endured the cross…”
He was also honest about the promises that would be fulfilled.
“I will declare your name to my brothers; in the congregation I will praise you.
You who fear the LORD, praise him.
All you descendents of Jacob, honor Him!..
For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one;
He has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help.
From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly;
Before those who fear you will I fulfill my vows.
The poor will eat and be satisfied;
They who seek the LORD will praise him—may your hearts live forever!
All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD,
And all the families of the nations will bow down before him,
For dominion belongs to the LORD and he rules over the nations.” Psalm 22:22-28
The same One who set the race course challenges and conflicts before us also set the JOY before us!
He knows the depths of our needs for testing in order to be entrusted with the Greatest Joy of Glory and being part of the Deliverer.
On the cross Jesus was honest to pour out his heart before the Father, honest to focus on the faithfulness of His Father, honest and determined to focus on the faithful promises of His Father.
When we feel like giving up may we attentively consider Jesus whose faith triumphed through every challenge, even to the death of the cross.
So what makes it possible to persevere and never give up?
Looking unto Jesus: attentively consider him, as the Leader and Completer of your faith.
He is the Master of Faith.
The proof of this is how his faith triumphed even on the cross.
“Who for the joy set before him endured the cross, despising [to disesteem] the shame.
The shame and agony was his experience, but he did not focus on the shame.
He made the shame little.
He was honest about the shame and the distress in prayer, as Psalm 22 suggests.
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning?” Psalm 22:1
But he was also honest about Who His Father was.
“But you are enthroned as the Holy One,
You are the praise of Israel.
In you our fathers put their trust;
They trusted and you delivered them.” Psalm 22:3-4
“Who for the joy set before him, endured the cross…”
He was also honest about the promises that would be fulfilled.
“I will declare your name to my brothers; in the congregation I will praise you.
You who fear the LORD, praise him.
All you descendents of Jacob, honor Him!..
For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one;
He has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help.
From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly;
Before those who fear you will I fulfill my vows.
The poor will eat and be satisfied;
They who seek the LORD will praise him—may your hearts live forever!
All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD,
And all the families of the nations will bow down before him,
For dominion belongs to the LORD and he rules over the nations.” Psalm 22:22-28
The same One who set the race course challenges and conflicts before us also set the JOY before us!
He knows the depths of our needs for testing in order to be entrusted with the Greatest Joy of Glory and being part of the Deliverer.
On the cross Jesus was honest to pour out his heart before the Father, honest to focus on the faithfulness of His Father, honest and determined to focus on the faithful promises of His Father.
When we feel like giving up may we attentively consider Jesus whose faith triumphed through every challenge, even to the death of the cross.
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