Saturday, April 23, 2011

Author of a Different Kind

It's been a while since I've written, but I thought I'd take time during this flood to update on my scripture memorization.  The first half of the month was Hebrews 12:1 so naturally I've moved on to Hebrews 12:2

"fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (NASB)

One of the things I have to remember from this verse is that "fixing our eyes on Jesus" means taking our eyes off other things.  Jesus is to be our focus, and the things of this world are to fall away.  That's easier during this Easter weekend.  The cross is so blatantly set before us, but that should be at the front of our minds all the time.  Christ died not for one weekend a year, but for everyone for all time until He returns.
Christ is also "the author and perfecter of faith."  This is what sets Him apart from all the examples of faith in Chapter 11.  He is the reason we have faith at all, and He carries us through, not leaving us to just figure it out ourselves. 

"For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6 (NASB)

Christ had joy in suffering not because of the suffering itself, but because of the end result. Our reconciliation to God and His "[sitting] down at the right hand of the throne of God."  We too are called to suffer and find joy in that. Romans 8:16-18, 1 Peter 2:20-23, James 5:10-11, and it goes on and on.  Find joy in what Christ has done for you, and what He continues to do.  He understands your suffering better than anyone.

"[3] Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,[4] who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.[5] For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ." 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 (NASB)

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