Hebrews 12:1-2 TLB
Since we have such a huge crowd of men of faith watching us from the grandstands, let us strip off anything that slows us down or holds us back, and especially those sins that wrap themselves so tightly around our feet and trip us up; and let us run with patience the particular race that God has set before us. [2] Keep your eyes on Jesus, our leader and instructor. He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be his afterwards; and now he sits in the place of honor by the throne of God.
Humanly speaking, we would all get tired and bored of continually living, preaching the gospel, hearing, and speaking the word of God without the Spirit and anointing of God.
On the contrary, the word of God mixed with the Holy Spirit and His anointing creates power, excitement, and grace to face the daily challenges and adventures of walking with God.
Without God’s Spirit and anointing, we only live a frustrated life.
We must stop looking at shadows, situations, and circumstances, and must keep looking at Jesus to avoid stumbling.
It’s easy to lose focus, to allow all the distractions of life to take our focus from the Lord. We are daily caught up in the grind and thrust of life which keeps our eyes on other things but Jesus. Verse 2 calls Jesus the author and finisher; —the author; the Prince-leader, the Captain who goes before us as the Originator of our faith, and the Leader whose matchless example we are to follow always.
The Perfecter- The Finisher. The completer of all that concerns us; He said by His confession on the cross “it is finished” in John 19:30. Indeed it is finished because He the finisher of our faith completed and perfected all things about life and godliness.
When we keep focusing on Jesus, the inspiration to handle life curves and challenges, business, and wealth, raising godly children and a fulfilling marriage will be released unto us. Above all, keeping our focus on Jesus helps us understand that we cannot be discouraged, refused, rejected, or swayed to the point of dismay or despair.
2 Timothy 3:16 is a scripture that comes with the inspiration of the Lord for all problems and challenging situations and circumstances and there is a solution from God for everything if we remain in the word of God and keep our focus on Jesus.
To keep our focus on Jesus is to direct our attention and concentrate on Him. If we are focused on Jesus, then He has our attention; we are concentrating on Him and His word and not on ephemerality because He occupies the forefront of our minds. Such a focus is only fitting, because Jesus by rights, should be our total point of focus.
Life is always going to be crazy, and man will always look for things to focus on. Some focus on chemical substances, some focus on the need for success, to prosper and be popular and so many other means of distracting ourselves from the struggles of life.
To keep our focus on Jesus and not on these destructive tendencies, we must remain planted in the vine according to John 15, without this we simply can’t do or be what God has called us to if we don’t stay connected to and keep focusing on Jesus.
Our focus on Jesus is made easier if we commit to spending time in the word. Remember that Jesus is the Word of God made flesh according to John 1:14.
Keeping our focus on Jesus helps us develop and maintain a radical prayer life, see Luke 11:1–13.
According to Psalm 25:15 when we understand the spiritual dangers we face daily and otherwise, we will learn to focus more on Jesus.
Turn your eyes on Jesus and keep focusing on Him.
Shalom