Scriptures: Hebrews 12:1,2; James 1:2
In times like these it is good to always keep in mind the magnitude of God’s love for us. Often we share personal experiences which recognizes our faith. People of God have faith to believe because it is right and because this is what God requires of us. Looking Up is having a consistent spirit of pure hope and joy in the salvation of Jesus Christ, regardless of our present circumstances.
The night of his arrest, Christ suffered immensely. He was falsely accused, scourged, mocked, and suffered tremendous physical discomfort. A crucifixion death was the worst of all type of punishments. Yet through all of his sufferings, the Apostle Paul was inspired to give us Christ’s experience of looking up
Hebrews chapter 12 follows what is affectionately termed as the faith chapter, Hebrews 11. In that chapter, we are given a great cloud of witnesses. In other words, we are told some of the treasured nuggets of many patriarchs who went through many trials, but kept their faith and love of God. They are now at rest in their grave and shall rise in the first resurrection. We are given portions of their life in God, so that we may know that we love the same God of the heavens and the earth. The God who had a plan, which is far beyond our human understanding, to save us. We will only know his plan by remaining in his presence.
We are to look unto Jesus “who is the author and the finisher of our faith“. He was in the beginning. He was with God at creation. He is the finisher. He will always be. Upon acceptance of him as our Savior, we have joy to know that our name is written in his blood. “For without shedding of blood is no remission.” Jesus “who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross”. Joy in that he was fully contented to give his life for the sins of the world. His life was in preparation for his death on the cross. He looked up! He maintained his devotion to his heavenly Father. It was from him, that Christ held on to his purpose, his mission here on earth. He remains our example of how to live in our divine purpose.
Jesus “despising the shame”. His false accusers had attempted in many ways to make him feel ashamed. When on the cross, he appearance was not one of glory. Yet, he was the essence of glory. Christ walked with all classes of people. He was not intimated by diseases or sick people or demon possessed people. It was his relationship with glory he despised the shame because he knew that his death was for a far greater cause. So he made shame ashamed! Yes, he had no shame because he counted it joy to fulfill the will of God. He had no shame because he knew that shame would have kept us from seeking salvation. Instead we look up! We look to Jesus Christ.
Jesus “and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God”. This does not mean that he is literally sitting down. This means that he was been given the blessings, honor and the power from God. Christ is actively working for us. He defeated the enemy on his every attempt to destroy him. So Christ is constantly advocating our causes to the Father. He protects and helps us, while we work out our own soul salvation trusting fully in him.
Looking Up is a positive frame of mind that believers must maintain. True, we will have problems. We will have divers of temptations. Christ did not give his life to stop temptations He gave his life to save us from temptations. When we look up, we see and feel nothing but an eternal hope that comes from our blessed Lord and Savior. Thank you Jesus for showing us the way of joy.
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From the Path of Righteousness Church in Christ
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