OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL. WEDNESDAY AUGUST 12 2015.
THEME : LOOK BEYOND THE BUS STOP.
MEMORISE : For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners
against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. HEBREWS 12 : 3.
READ : HEBREWS 12 : 1 – 3.
1 WHEREFORE seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of
witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset
us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy
that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set
down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself,
lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : GENESIS 11 – 13 AND JOHN 12 : 9 – 26.
MESSAGE
From Hebrews 12 : 1, we understand that a race has been set before us as
Christians. We did not initiate the race, but our decision to fellow Jesus Christ
automatically signed us in as partakers. Moreover, this race is an unusual
marathon. If you lack patience, you cannot run the race. If you want to run it
like a spirit, you would only be wasting your time, because God will not redesign
the race for you; rather, you are the one who needs to adjust to His
programme.
The Christian life is a process and not a single event. As a process, you are
expected to move from one stage to another. You must be like a traveller who
goes from one bus stop to another, continuing his journey until he reaches his
final destination. In the course of the journey, you may be required to stop
over at the bus stop of lack. This is meant to test your faith and ability to
trust God for provision. No matter how long you stay there, never turn that
bus stop into your destination. God may allow you to stop over at the bus stop
of ridicule, to test whether you will continue the race in spite of belittlement.
Those who overinflated egos and those who hold themselves in high esteem may
have problems here. Do you know that some people have called off their trip to
Heaven just because they were mocked, ridiculed and laughed to scorn? Never
truncate your journey to Heaven because of any unpleasant experience
encountered at any bus stop. The very Author and Finisher of this race also
went through this bus stop. People mocked Him and seriously ridiculed Him, but
He overcame it all with the weapons of prayer, patience and quietness, and he
finally reached the finish line. He got to the end because He focused on the joy
that was set before Him ( Hebrews 12 : 2 )
How you see the race that is set
before you will definitely affect your attitude to it. While many people see
what is before them as a worrisome race, Jesus saw the same as a joyous
event. Therefore, one way you can run this race victoriously is by ignoring the
challenges on the way and focusing on the rewards that await you on the other
side. If your heart is on what you will receive in Heaven, you will not turn your
bus stop into a destination by building a tent there. How are you handling this
race? After the present unpleasant experiences comes the glorious, eternal
experience of joy, awaiting you on the other side. Don’t miss out on it!
KEY POINT :
If you do not focus on the silver lining at the end of the marathon race to
Heaven, you will grow weary along the way.
against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. HEBREWS 12 : 3.
READ : HEBREWS 12 : 1 – 3.
1 WHEREFORE seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of
witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset
us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy
that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set
down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself,
lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : GENESIS 11 – 13 AND JOHN 12 : 9 – 26.
MESSAGE
From Hebrews 12 : 1, we understand that a race has been set before us as
Christians. We did not initiate the race, but our decision to fellow Jesus Christ
automatically signed us in as partakers. Moreover, this race is an unusual
marathon. If you lack patience, you cannot run the race. If you want to run it
like a spirit, you would only be wasting your time, because God will not redesign
the race for you; rather, you are the one who needs to adjust to His
programme.
The Christian life is a process and not a single event. As a process, you are
expected to move from one stage to another. You must be like a traveller who
goes from one bus stop to another, continuing his journey until he reaches his
final destination. In the course of the journey, you may be required to stop
over at the bus stop of lack. This is meant to test your faith and ability to
trust God for provision. No matter how long you stay there, never turn that
bus stop into your destination. God may allow you to stop over at the bus stop
of ridicule, to test whether you will continue the race in spite of belittlement.
Those who overinflated egos and those who hold themselves in high esteem may
have problems here. Do you know that some people have called off their trip to
Heaven just because they were mocked, ridiculed and laughed to scorn? Never
truncate your journey to Heaven because of any unpleasant experience
encountered at any bus stop. The very Author and Finisher of this race also
went through this bus stop. People mocked Him and seriously ridiculed Him, but
He overcame it all with the weapons of prayer, patience and quietness, and he
finally reached the finish line. He got to the end because He focused on the joy
that was set before Him ( Hebrews 12 : 2 )
How you see the race that is set
before you will definitely affect your attitude to it. While many people see
what is before them as a worrisome race, Jesus saw the same as a joyous
event. Therefore, one way you can run this race victoriously is by ignoring the
challenges on the way and focusing on the rewards that await you on the other
side. If your heart is on what you will receive in Heaven, you will not turn your
bus stop into a destination by building a tent there. How are you handling this
race? After the present unpleasant experiences comes the glorious, eternal
experience of joy, awaiting you on the other side. Don’t miss out on it!
KEY POINT :
If you do not focus on the silver lining at the end of the marathon race to
Heaven, you will grow weary along the way.
we shall not be weary in Jesus name
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