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Jesus is the Finisher
Andrea Lende • May 7, 2021
Hebrews 12:2
Jesus is the Finisher
You can also listen to the devotion and prayer at: https://anchor.fm/andrea-lende/episodes/Jesus-is-the-Finisher-e10es35
Hebrews 12:2
“Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right had of the throne of God.”
Faith is fascinating.
We can’t touch or see it.
We can only feel it.
Sometimes we feel so strong in our faith.
Other times, the feeling is slight and faint.
Our verse gives us some clues about how to stay in a place of faith.
The writer says to look away from all distractions.
There are so many distractions in our modern-day world.
We are inundated with the pressures of work, or the lack of it.
Our responsibilities, from raising children caring for elderly parents, keep us busy.
Taking care of all our belongings including our homes, lawns, and cars take much of our spare time.
And then the entertainment we engage in takes whatever remaining time we have left.
I mean there are so many things to do, so many things to enjoy, read, watch, and play online.
The list of distractions is truly endless.
However, the writer of Hebrews says to look away from those distractions and then to look to Jesus.
Keep our eyes fixed on Him.
Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek first of all His kingdom and His righteousness, and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.”
Oh, if we could always put God first.
I know I haven’t.
And when I don’t, I fall short.
Then the guilt comes.
Shame follows me around like a puppy dog until I find His grace.
It’s always there.
I just don’t always reach for it.
Since the writer tells us to look away from the distractions of our lives, it actually means there will be some.
They are unavoidable.
However, we can try our best to be intentional about putting the Lord first.
The Hebrews writer also says Jesus is the Finisher of our faith.
He steps in where our abilities end.
And when we find ourselves short of faith, we can ask Him to supplement it and give us more.
Today I pray the Lord will increase my faith in Him so I can do as He asks of me.
May you find the Lord will increase your faith and bring you to Himself so you will spend eternity with Him.
Daily Prayer:
O Lord, my God, thank You for showing me more about how to stay in faith. Thank You for showing me I need to turn away from the distractions of this world and look to Jesus. And thank You for showing me Jesus is the Finisher of my faith. He will increase it and bring it to full maturity one day. He will help me grow in this area until my faith is perfect when I stand before You. Help me ignore the distractions that keep me from You, Father. Help me seek You first. Help me seek You always. Keep me at Your feet. Keep me in Your Word. Keep my heart Yours for all eternity. Thank You for choosing me to know You, Lord. Thank You for choosing me to worship You. May I serve You this and every day. Help me bless someone today. Thank You for hearing my prayer.
Answer: I AM increasing your faith, so you can do mighty things through My Name.
Response: Help me be obedient to Your call, Father.
We start a New Year! How exciting! Paul had just finished telling the Ephesians to put off their old nature. They had been run around by their feelings and desires. He told them to be renewed in their spirit. The Amplified Bible defines this to be “having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude.” As we say goodbye to this year, let us put on the new and leave the old behind. We have an opportunity to reflect on what to bring forward into this New Year.
This is a great message for the New Year. We can be in control of our own words. As a mother, I used to tell my children to use their words to explain what was happening in their minds. I tried to help them find the right words. Words that would help the situation and not make it worse. I must do the same thing when talking to them. It’s important to use words that do not damage their spirits. Words that lift up instead of tear down. Even though my children have grown, I still want to be careful how I speak to them because my worlds will impact them for the rest of their lives.
As we approach the New Year, it is a perfect time to take inventory of what part of our lives, our hearts, and our souls are not bearing fruit. What can we give up as this year comes to a close? What do we need to give to the Lord for His cleansing and pruning? The answers to these questions take time. Time with the Lord. We are creatures of routines and habits which serve us well. But we can also change our routines and habits to serve us and the Lord better. So, we can ask God to show us what He wants us to give up so that He can have more of us.
I cannot think of a better verse to meditate on as we approach the New Year. Jesus said, "the kingdom of God is within you [in your hearts] and among you [surrounding you]." For so many years I believed I had to wait to go to heaven to experience the kingdom of God. I have longed to step into heaven and meet the Lord and His Son. However, as we read the Gospels and study Jesus and all that He said, we begin to understand the kingdom of God is all around us. The kingdom of God is within.
Paul wrote to the Colossians and told them he was praying for them. He prayed they would be refreshed, renewed, and invigorated. He also prayed they would be strengthened. May his prayer be heard by the Lord God Almighty on our behalf today just as it was received two thousand years ago. God is the Source of all things beautiful and wonderful. There is no shortage of renewal, refreshment, or inspiration in His kingdom. And as the Creator of this universe, He continues to pour all good things into His people. Paul wrote that refreshment and strength are needed so we may have endurance.
This verse is the perfect verse to reflect on as Christmas comes to a close. The Lord sent His Son to us. He sent Him to this world as a babe. Jesus was given the task of growing up. A difficult one for all of us. He endured the awkward stages we all go through as we grow past them. I look back at old picture and cringe, yes, I cringe. This life provides plenty of opportunities to feel awkward and just plain weird, but our Father loves us as though we are perfect every day of our lives. This is why Jesus came. He came to make us perfect in God’s sight.
God made Himself flesh so He could take away the sins of the world. The story of the very first Christmas was humble, yet the most powerful and loving birth ever recorded in history. All humanity changed in an instant. When Jesus was born, love filled the earth. Love came down and lifted us up. The angels came to tell the shepherds of this beautiful birth. The stars in the heavens also told the story. As we do all tasks that we do to ensure a beautiful Christmas day, may we remember the miracle that God sent long ago. The miracle of all miracles.
The first Christmas was going to be documented, so that it could be read many times over for all Christmas’ to come. It was also documented so the prophecy of the Messiah’s birth would be known to be fulfilled. Prophets of old foretold Jesus would come from the house of David. They also prophesied that He would be born in Bethlehem. And all this came to pass. Even though Jesus would be known as a Nazarene, His beginning began in Bethlehem. God’s divine plan was set in motion with the first census while Mary was at the end of her pregnancy.
What a wonderful passage to read during Christmas week. Our passage touched my heart as I read it through the lens of Jesus’ birth. “It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself.” We have so much to be thankful for in these few short words, “restoring the world to favor with Himself.” So undeserved and yet so graciously given. We are offered favor with the Lord. Imagine having favor with the almighty God, the Creator of the universe. Jesus chose to leave heaven’s door where all was perfect. He chose to be born into this dusty messy world.
Jesus had just spoken to a fig tree and deemed it unworthy to live because it had no fruit on it. His disciples were amazed when they saw the fig tree wither and die. Then the Lord talked to them about prayer and belief. He told them that whatever they asked for, if they had the faith and belief, they would receive it. I remember the day I started hearing music and lyrics. I had just bowed my head at the piano and asked if the Lord would bless praise and worship music. As soon as I prayed that prayer, the Lord bestowed the gift of song writing upon me.