Hebrews 12:2, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”  

This verse beautifully tells us how to run our spiritual race successfully: by “looking unto Jesus.” We must fix our eyes on Him, actively choosing to look away from the distractions that constantly pull us – our problems, other people, and the difficulties of life. Our focus must be solely on Jesus, for He is always looking out for us! Jesus is not just a participant; He is the “author and finisher of our faith.” He initiates our faith, and He will bring it to completion. He is with us from the very beginning of our spiritual journey to its glorious end. As Philippians 1:6 powerfully reminds us, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” 

Consider Jesus’ incredible example. He suffered greatly on the cross, enduring immense pain and profound shame. Yet, our text reveals a glorious truth: He looked past that pain and shame to the great joy that was set before Him – the joy of saving us. He endured – He did not give up – because He foresaw the good result of our redemption.  

And where is He now? He “is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” This means Jesus won the race! He is now in a place of ultimate victory and supreme power with God. He is our hope and our strength for our lives. When we fix our gaze upon Him, the “author and finisher,” He will empower us to run our own race with endurance, knowing that He has already secured the ultimate victory. 

(Today’s devotion was authored by Bro. Joshua Soliz, a LIFE Group leader and preacher at RBC.)