Jesus is the Author and Perfecter of our faith

Last week, as I prepared to speak to a group of ladies at a local church, I realized the message I was writing was for me. Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV says, “let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and perfecter of faith.” My study note says, “the beginner and completer of faith. The ONE who went ahead of all believers in their faith…, hence the perfect embodiment of faith and the supreme model for faith.” That is Jesus. He is our supreme model of what faith should look like. 

Look at the rest of the verse, “For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

“So that you will not grow weary.”

I feel like I’ve grown a little weary lately. Even though I just finished my manuscript, I still have a ways to go with the editing, formatting and publishing of the book. Sometimes I wonder if I will ever finish. The closer I am to the end, the slower things move.  I feel like I have been running a race. If you know me, I am no runner. But Hebrews encourages us to run with perseverance and fix our eyes on Jesus. God is so good. Every time I am about to lose heart, God reminds me, sometimes through a message I am preparing for someone else.

When I grow tired and weary, I need to fix my eyes upon Jesus. The perfecter of my faith. If I focus on myself, the book, the outcome, my future – everything goes awry. But if I focus on Jesus, Jesus will show me the way every time! His life will lead me the to very place God intends for me to go. Everything I need and everything I need to know is right here in this book called the Bible. 

It brings me comfort to think Jesus is not only the beginner of our faith, but most importantly, THE FINISHER of our faith. Jesus gives us hope. No matter what race you find yourself in, my prayer for you today is you find hope to finish your race.

Hear it from the Message:

“Do you see what this means—

all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on?

It means we’d better get on with it.

Strip down, start running—and never quit!

No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins.

Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in.

Study how he did it.

Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—

that exhilarating finish in and with God—

he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever.

And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God.

When you find yourselves flagging in your faith,

go over that story again, item by item,

that long litany of hostility he plowed through.

That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!”

Oh my gosh, this fires me up and gives me so much hope! Whatever race you are in, do not give up! Keep your eyes on Jesus! Do it like He did it! If you find yourself wavering, look at his life, his relationship with God, his prayer life and obedience to the Father. Model that life within your own.

Jesus chose to surrender his will to the Will of the Father. Because of that surrender, we can sit here today with hope. Hope to finish this race. Hope in this life we are living. Hope of a better day and hope of heaven. In Jesus’s obedience, he persevered all the way unto death. Because of that death, we can live today.

Let us pray,

Dear Lord, thank you that you are the author and perfecter of our faith. Thank you that you sent your son to show us the way. Thank you that we can run this race because you are with us. Help us to never lose heart and persevere until the day when all the glory is yours. In Jesus Name, Amen. -M