100 Days to a Healthier ChurchSample

Day 97

Today’s Big Idea: Eyes on Jesus. The author of Hebrews keeps on going past the list of heroes of faith in Hebrews 11. The story of these heroes wraps up in the most beautiful way in the first verses of chapter 12.

Key Verse: Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith (Hebrews 12:1–2).

Thoughts to Consider: Therefore is a powerful and important word in the Bible. It points back to what went before and pushes us forward to what’s next. This therefore is especially important. It reminds us that we’re still talking about the Faith Hall of Fame from Hebrews 11, then it tells us what that list was all about. Since we have a role in the next part of this great story of faith, we have an obligation to run our leg of the race well. The only way to do that is to get rid of anything weighing us down—our sins and anything else that might hinder and entangle us. Then we keep running, keep persevering, keep our eyes on the prize. We keep building on what others have already done. And we seek one goal—not our glory or their glory, but Christ’s glory. He’s the pioneer who started everything, and He’ll be the perfecter who completes it.