By Pastor Steve Nickodemus

Jesus Sets the Pace

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“And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.”
Hebrews 12:1b – 2a New International Version

A friend of mine shared this picture of one of their very curious cats sitting and intensely watching this beautiful carving of the “Rose of Sharon Cross” done by Mick, another friend of mine.  The owner of the cat said, “I am not sure if she is intent on Jesus or whether there might have been a lady bug crawling on that carved flower!”

Are your eyes fixed on Jesus?  When I ran cross country, I liked to fix my eyes on a runner ahead of me and match my pace to his.  Running behind the leader was a great way to go far beyond my own limitations or pain or fears.  That leader drew me along behind him.

Jesus is doing that for you.  Jesus runs the race of life before us, having persevered and endured the cross and its sin and pain.  And He calls us to follow after Him, to fix our eyes on His salvation, on His cross, on His sacrifice.  Jesus has gone before us and I see Him before me each day.  In Him I set aside my guilt and my fears and my distractions.  I fix my eyes steadily on Him before me.  He who has won my salvation and continues to mature my faith never falters.  I can trust the path He leads me on.

And when it really hurts and I don’t think I can go on, when the race seems too hard for me to run, suddenly He is no longer in front of me, but next to me, carrying me, and directing me, and strengthening me.  Like Saint Paul, I have not already obtained my goal, but “I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” (Philippians 3:12)

Lord Jesus, lead me on until this race of life is done.  I follow You.  Amen.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado