Looking to Christ—Our Focus, Our Strength, Our Example
“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.” —Hebrews 12:2
The Christian life is a race—marked by trials, spiritual battles, distractions, and seasons of weariness. In all of it, Scripture commands us to lift our gaze above the struggle and fix our eyes on one unchanging reality: Jesus Christ. He authored our faith at Calvary, He perfects it through His grace, and He now reigns in glory. His suffering was not accidental, and it was not defeat. He endured the cross for the joy set before Him—the joy of redeeming a people who would be His forever.
When our eyes are on ourselves, we faint. When our eyes are on the world, we fear. But when our eyes are on Christ, we endure.
The Call to Endurance in the Race of Faith
The journey of faith is not casual—it is costly. Hebrews reminds us:
“Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.” (v.4)
We grow tired. We face temptation. We are opposed. Yet the Holy Spirit rebukes our spiritual passivity. The battle against sin is serious, and though the struggle is real, it has not cost us what it cost Him. Our Lord endured the full force of hell’s hatred and man’s cruelty—and He triumphed. If He endured, we can endure in His strength.
The Loving Discipline of the Father
“My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord… For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth.” (vv.5–6)
God’s discipline is not rejection—it is adoption. It is the unmistakable evidence that we belong to Him. The world resists correction. The flesh despises discipline. But the child of God learns to welcome the Father’s training, understanding that every trial, rebuke, and refining fire is working righteousness in us.
His goal is not our comfort. His goal is our Christ-likeness.
If we reject discipline, we remain spiritual children. If we endure it, we grow into spiritual sons and daughters—mature, fruitful, and steadfast.
Sons and Daughters of God
“If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons.” (v.7)
Endurance is the mark of true sonship. Discipline is the pathway to holiness. And fixing our eyes on Jesus is the only way to run with unwavering faith in a generation that celebrates self and rejects correction. Our Father is not raising pampered children—He is shaping eternal heirs for His kingdom.
Christ began our story. Christ sustains our story. Christ will finish our story. And when we see Him, every tear, every trial, and every season of chastening will make sense in the light of His glory.
Conclusion
The saints who endure are the saints who keep their eyes on Christ. Do not despise the discipline of the Lord. Do not grow weary. Do not lose heart. The Father is forming Christ in you, and the Son who endured the cross now empowers you to endure your race. And when the story is finished, you will stand with Him in glory—complete, mature, and victorious.