Consider Christ’s sacrifice
Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame... Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. Hebrews 12:2-3 NLT
The writer of Hebrews provides a challenged to each one of us to consider the meaning of Christ’s crucifixion. It was “because of the joy awaiting him” that our Lord Jesus Christ endured the cross. Christ’s death on the cross took place so He could provide salvation to those who will believe and trust Him. This is the joy that the Lord is looking forward to: to see people who will surrender their lives to Him for salvation. God will not force Himself to us. The cross of Christ can be a blessing or a curse to us. It will be a blessing if we accept His offer of salvation He accomplished on our behalf through His death at the cross. It will be a curse for if we reject His offer; we will be condemned and not experience eternal life. “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son” (John 3:18). The choices people make whether to receive or reject the offer of salvation were portrayed by the two thieves who hung on either side of Jesus Christ. One responded by asking Jesus to remember him when He is in paradise. The other rejected the offer and was condemned for eternity. The Lord Jesus Christ will never reject anyone who comes to Him for salvation. The Lord Jesus Christ lived His earthly life and died at the cross so He could initiate the faith that will provide us salvation. “...keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). This is why we need to focus on Him. Let us not allow the distractions of this world to divert us so we could endure until the end and finish well. Let us focus on Him alone so we “won’t become weary and give up.”
Blessings,
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