Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  Day 160

June 10;   Hebrews 12:2;   216/260(I);   ‘We Are His Joy’

Hebrews 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.        NIV

What an incredible verse.  First of all, this verse teaches that we must fix our eyes on Jesus.  Once we become a Christian, why would we give our attention to anything other than Him?  It is fine to have things you enjoy, but Jesus should occupy much of your time and attention.  Why?Jesus is the Author of our faith.  Jesus is called the Word of God in John 1:1.  So as we read the Bible our faith in the Lord begins.  Remember that faith comes by hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17).  Jesus also is the perfecter’ or finisher of our faith.  You cannot study the Bible too much.  The more you learn from God’s Word, the stronger your faith grows.  We will never know everything the Word teaches, but if you want to, you can get incredibly strong in your walk with the Lord by the Word.  Think of the horrific treatment Jesus received at the hands of the religious leaders and the Roman soldiers, at the cross and before, when they brutalized our Lord.  The Bible says that that was joy for Jesus.  How could it be?  Because he was willing to suffer as he did so that we would not have to suffer and that we could have an eternal relationship with Him.  There is no greater love.  The verse teaches that Jesus scorned, thought nothing of, the shame He went through.  He did this for us, with His eyes on our eternal redemption and living in heaven with Him forever.  When Jesus rose from the dead, having willingly paid our price and suffering as he did, He sat down at the right hand of His Father.  All can be with Him forever if they honor the awesome price Jesus paid for each of us.