Scripture Study
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. – Hebrews 12:1-2
This week I have had some issues with my back. I try to exercise to prevent it, but occasionally, out of nowhere, it just starts to hurt. This time I was doing the dishes and all of a sudden, I could not stand. I had to hold onto the counter, and every movement after that was painful.
It’s amazing how one minute you are fine and the next you have trouble even shifting your weight when you are sitting on the couch.
It’s not only the physical pain that causes a problem—after a few days, it’s the mental toll it takes on you. When you have trouble rolling over in bed, getting dressed, or doing anything that you did with ease just a couple of days before, you start to lose focus and it mentally drains you. The pain starts to become the focus and takes over everything: your thinking, the way you do things, and you begin to wonder if the pain will ever let up.
A System That Breaks Down
The human body has an unbelievable design. It is capable of doing some pretty amazing things, and most days everything you do is effortless and without much thought. Your body and mind have a way of making the things you do daily a habit.
You can also push your body past its limits, and it will respond by getting stronger.
However, no matter how incredible the human body is, if you don’t treat it properly, it will eventually break down. Even when we are doing everything right, it can still break down.
We live in a fallen world, and everything in this world will eventually let us down. The only thing that will hold steady is Christ.
Pain vs. Purpose
When pain becomes intense enough, it has a way of affecting everything. You think about it when you stand up, when you sit down, when you walk, and even when you sleep. Without trying, the pain becomes part of nearly every decision you make.
What if our focus on Christ affected our lives that much?
What if He was at the center of the way we worked, the way we treated our families, the way we responded to problems, and the decisions we made? What if His purpose for our lives became the filter through which we viewed everything else?
Things will not always go well, and they will not always be easy. But when we fix our eyes on Christ and allow His purpose for our lives to become the driving force behind how we live, difficulties may slow us down, but they don’t have to determine our direction.
“Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith…” — Hebrews 12:2
Think about what has occupied most of your thoughts this week. What has your focus—and what would change if you fixed your eyes on Christ instead?
Have a great day in Christ,
Matt
