November 16, 2025
Daily Devotional:
“The Race and The Gaze”
Hebrews 12:2
"Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
The writer of Hebrews compares our Christian life to a long-distance race. In the previous verse, we're told to strip away everything that hinders us and run with endurance. But how do we maintain that endurance when the path is tough, the burdens feel heavy, or the finish line seems far away?
The answer is simple yet profound: "fixing our eyes on Jesus."
Jesus is the "pioneer and perfecter" of our faith. He is the one who blazed the trail for us to follow. He didn't just tell us how to live a life of faith; He lived it perfectly. If you are ever unsure of the next step to take, look to Him. He started this faith journey within you, and He promises to bring it to completion. Your faith is not just your effort; it is His work in you. What gave Jesus the strength to endure the cross—the most brutal and humiliating form of execution? It was the "joy set before him." This wasn't a temporary, fleeting happiness. This was the deep, eternal joy of fulfilling the Father's will and achieving our salvation. He looked past the agony and thepublic shame of the cross to the profound reward: a redeemed people and His rightful place of authority at the right hand of God.
We, too, are called to live with a forward focus. When you face hardship today—a challenging situation at work, a conflict in a relationship, or a personal struggle—don't let your eyes get stuck on the pain. Lift your gaze to the joy set before you: the promise of eternal life, the assurance of His presence, andthe knowledge that your momentary troubles are producing an eternal weight of glory.
What in your life is pulling your gaze away from Jesus? Is it worry about the future, regret over the past, or the allure of worldly pursuits? Identify one "weight" you need to lay downtoday.
Redirect Your Focus in making a conscious choice right now to fix your eyes on Jesus. This means focusing on His character of love, faithfulness, power and His accomplished work in the cross and the resurrection.
Let us endure with Hope Like Jesus, look past your immediate difficulty to the promised victory. Let the future, eternal joy fuels our endurance in the present.