The Perfect Example of Faith

Running 42.195 kilometres is a staggering challenge for most of us. When runners are the weariest at the last leg of a marathon, how do they find the strength to finish the race? Some say the cheers of the side-line supporters energises them. Others highlight the importance of having your eyes fixed on the endpoint and prize. While we may not run sporting marathons, are these parallels for us in lasting and finishing the marathon of our Christian journey?

After detailing the great human examples of faith, the author of Hebrews describes the Christian faith as a race and exhorts his readers to press on. He presents the faith heroes as witnesses of God’s faithfulness – people we can look to as examples to stay the course. But as motivating as these models of faith may be, the author of Hebrews declares that Jesus is truly the ultimate example of faith that we fix our eyes on.

Jesus is the crowning example of trust in God. He endured the Cross, not with a passive resignation to death, but with an active hope towards the joy that will come after. His entire life was characterised by unquestioning faith in the Father, especially in the Garden of Gethsemane, where He completely submitted Himself to the Father. In Jesus, we see a picture of perfect faith, one that inspires us to follow to last and finish our race.

In times when we grow weary and find our faith waning, look to Jesus. In moments where we start to lose heart in our struggle against sin, look to Jesus. In seasons of trial, which seems too long to bear, look to Jesus. Remember how He persevered in His journey to the Cross, how He trusted in the Father and how He firmly resolved to exchange His very life for ours. Our faith is rooted in Jesus and made complete in Jesus.

In the years to come, we may wonder again – how do I finish strong and last till the end? Hebrews answers that question, again and again. The faith heroes cheer us on. Jesus has given His life. We are in the company of the faithful, and God is not done with us yet. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the perfect example of faith.

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Thank you for joining us on this journey in the company of the faithful. We hope you've been blessed by this time. Alongside this devotional is a prayer guide as we navigate 2022 - we'd love to invite you to pray along with us as a church, so join us here!

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