OPEN HEAVENS Devotional – Monday February 1st 2016
TOPIC: LOOKING UNTO JESUS II
Memorize: Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of
our faith; Hebrews 12:2b
Read: Hebrews 12:1-2,
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about
with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin
which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is
set before us,
2 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.
Bible in one year: Matthew 19:1-21:27; Job 14:7-17
MESSAGE
The phrase ‘Looking unto Jesus’ contains three very
important words of salvation, encouragement and direction for daily Christian
living. Nicodemus, in his search for the true God and eternal life every human
being, approached Jesus for possible understanding. Jesus made the new birth
very plain by using an Old Testament illustration of the fiery serpents of
brass put on a pole for the Israelites to look upon as recorded in the book of
Numbers 21:8-9.
“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,
even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him
should not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:14-15
As looking unto the brass serpent on a pole in faith
brought healing to the children of Israel in the wilderness, so also, whosoever
shall look unto the crucified Christ as the Messiah and the Saviour of the
world by faith, shall receive forgiveness of sins and be born again.
From time to time in the rigorous journeys of life, we
sometimes find ourselves in a state of tiredness and confusion. At such times,
Apostle Paul in Hebrews 12:1-2 admonishes us to run with patience the race that
is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith for
encouragement. We are not to look into Jesus for encouragement only; we are
also to look into Jesus as our perfect example, so as to follow in His
footsteps.
“For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also
suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who
did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled,
reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself
to him that judgeth righteously” 1st Peter 2:21-23
Looking unto other gods for deliverance, healing and
salvation has brought untold hardship and loss to many, while looking unto
great men and women that are successful in life and ministry has resulted in
great disappointment, sorrow and pain. As a matter of fact, this has been a
major cause of failure in life, but there is no failure or disappointment in
Jesus. Looking unto Jesus can only increase your faith and lead to physical and
spiritual upliftment.
We are to look unto Jesus in our daily Christian living
as the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the End, who provides us with
direction through His word. This also brings us in contact with the divine
knowledge, wisdom and power of God. An ordinary person therefore, becomes
equipped to do exploit of supernatural dimensions.
Prayer Point
Father, please give me the grace to always look unto You
for everything I need in life.
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