Stay Focused on the Pioneer of Faith

Stay Focused on the Pioneer of Faith

 

Hebrews 12:2, 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.

God correctly emphasizes the significance of Jesus enduring the cross for a much greater purpose. The Lord Jesus faced immense suffering not merely as a duty but as a purposeful sacrifice—an act of obedience to God’s promises, motivated by the joy of redeeming humanity and reuniting with the Father in heaven.

Accordingly, faith…is not merely a private feeling. It is much more a loyal trust of God even under strain. Also, a believer even though he is righteous before God is not a person who has mastered life; he keeps leaning on God when the situation does not yet make sense. (See Holden Kirlin)

The Lord Jesus literally “endured the cross” signifying accepting the suffering and pain of crucifixion. This very notion encourages us to embrace our trials with faith and patience, viewing them as opportunities for obedience to God’s will and spiritual growth.

• Suffering and Sacrifice Go Together: Enduring the cross represents the ultimate sacrifice made by Jesus, highlighting His obedience to God’s divine plan despite immense suffering. Faith always has this element of placing our confidence in God’s obligation—taking his statements and promises seriously even if it requires our physical life.
• Spiritual Growth is One Outcome: We are encouraged to see our own struggles as means to deepen our faith and develop resilience. Faith involves intentional actions and practices like Scripture reading, prayer, church participation, practical holiness, and service that strengthen our relationship with the Lord. 

Remember, according to Hebrews 12:2, Jesus endured the cross for the joy that lay ahead, which included fulfilling prophecy and achieving salvation for humanity. This perspective, confidence or faith based on God’s actual statements, emphasizes that enduring difficulties leads to greater rewards and fulfillment in our heavenly future.

So, throughout life’s race, we must look away from every one else and keep our eyes riveted on the Lord Jesus, who is the foremost Runner of this race. A. B. Bruce comments:

One stands out conspicuous above all the rest … the Man who first perfectly realised the idea of living by faith …, who undauntedly endured the bitter suffering of the cross, and despised the ignominy of it, sustained by a faith that so vividly realised coming joy and glory as to obliterate the consciousness of present pain and shame.

Child of God, Jesus is the author, or pioneer, of our faith meaning He has provided us with the only perfect or complete example of what the life of faith is like.

Jesus is also the “finisher of our faith.” He not only began the race but finished it triumphantly. He did it all by faith! He kept His eyes fixed on the coming glory when all the redeemed would be gathered with Him eternally. This ‘kind of faith’ enabled Him to think nothing of shame and to endure suffering by crucifixion. “Today Jesus is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”^[1]

Beloved, our supreme Model for real faith is Jesus! “He kept His eye on the joy set before Him, the “joy” alluded to in 1:9 wherein He obtained an eternal throne. The believers’ share in that joy must also be kept in view. After enduring (hypemeinen, the verb related to the noun hypomonē in 12:1; cf. vv. 3, 7) the cross and scorning its shame, Jesus assumed that triumphant position at the right hand of the throne of God (cf. 1:3; 8:1; 10:12) which presages His and the believers’ final victory (cf. 1:13–14).”^[2]

The faithful believer sees a powerful testimony of what faith looks like in action. A demonstrated trust in God made possible even in difficult circumstances. There is no rethinking, quitting, or giving up! We are encouraged to remove anything that hinders our spiritual growth and run the race of faith with serious perseverance.

Jesus stands alone as the ultimate example of faith and endurance. He endured suffering and rejection because He looked forward to the joy that would come through the redemption of humanity. Beloved, by focusing on Christ, we find strength and courage to continue forward even during our trials. (See Bible Remnant)

“This is where faith becomes practical rather than decorative. It changes how you handle guilt, how you respond to uncertainty, and how you make decisions that carry moral weight. It also reshapes personal growth, because growth in the Christian life is usually slower and less polished than people want it to be. The next challenge is that faith does not just need habits; it also needs endurance when the pressure is real.”—Holden Kirlin

Like yourself, I am deeply intimidated by this Bible claim, but the Lord Jesus, His apostles, the early martyrs, and many real believers down through history sealed their conviction with their own blood. I am not greater than they. After all, “the just shall live by faith.”

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^[1] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 2202–3.

^[2] Zane C. Hodges, “Hebrews,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 809–10.

A Strong Anchor II

 

A Strong Anchor II

 

Lamentations 3:22-23, It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, Because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: Great is thy faithfulness.

Theme: God’s loving mercies never run out, and He offers us a fresh start and renewed strength daily. 

Relevance: A ‘leaving of the old situations behind’ is reason to hope again, even in the middle of our seriously painful experiences God’s compassions reach out to us still (Lam. 3:21–23). We all have been tempted to ‘bottle up’ our experiences… ‘bottle up’ our emotions…suppress or hide our true feelings instead of expressing or processing them with God’s eternal truth.

Introduction:

Continuing this thought we must now consider the key concept in these verses and then the implications in everyday experiences. Let's begin with our basic outlook or perspective and spiritual posture. 

Lesson:

Approach Life with This Conviction—that God is GOOD!

Beloved, this idea will demand your faith like nothing else will. Many people have walked away from ‘Christianity’ because they failed to value the truth that God is good! I urge you to use your faith to believe this communication from the Holy Spirit through the Word. We can start each morning with gratitude towards the Lord, leaving yesterday’s failures behind through serious confession, and trusting God’s steady compassion during hard times...emotionally desperate situations. Circumstances we may even deserve....

      1.    Start renewed each morning: Thank God every day for a clean slate. Do not let past mistakes or yesterday’s heavy stress ruin today. God’s mercy resets with every sunrise (Rom. 12:1-2). Explore new opportunities!

2. Release guilt and shame: Remember that God’s great love stops you from being overwhelmed by your flaws. Believe me we all have serious quirks and personality problems. When you feel unworthy, after your confession, accept His forgiveness instead of punishing yourself (1 Jn. 1:5-8). It is correct to embrace His very real forgiveness towards yourself; I have more times than I can count now. 
3. Be honest in tough times: Allow yourself to feel grief or pain no matter how unnatural this experience may feel, just as the prophet Jeremiah did in Lamentations. Bring your honest struggles, raw painful confusion, and broken heart to God in prayer rather than hiding them, pretending it does not matter, or burying them under business, work, and distractions.
4. Show mercy to others: Pass on the same love, compassion, patience, and kindness you receive from the Lord. Please do NOT allow yourself to stall because people do not deserve your understanding. Forgive people who wrong you, treating them better than they deserve because God does the same for you and me (Eph. 4:30-32). Our job is not to be the judge; that is God's department...He will see to the fairness of it all. Be merciful because you belong to Christ, He reigns over your heart, not what other people 'deserve.' 
5. Build sturdy trust: Rely on God’s unchanging character when life feels unpredictable (2 Pet.1:19-21). This is your chance to steadily show goodness, love, compassion, empathy and patience! Anchor your hope and confidence in His faithfulness rather than in changing human circumstances. It is always right to trust God even more.... 

Remember, everything in us and everything around us will scream that God is NOT good. You must believe the Bible statements and not your feelings, thoughts, philosophies, or the counsel of well-meaning people! Yes, God permits our suffering and pain…He allows wars, earthquakes, diseases, murder, death, sorrow, devastation, and utter chaos! Why doesn’t He prevent this if He really is all powerful and truly good? We feel justified in asking this because we are convinced we 'deserve' better conditions. All of it feels wrong and unacceptable! Again, you must use your faith with great tenacity! People commonly place their own views ahead of God’s revelation to their own detriment. Especially when our pain is so pronounced and relentless! You must believe God instead of yourself or what you feel! Give yourself permission to trust what the Holy Spirit is saying from the Bible…God is Good!!! The awful circumstances of people reveal just how good God really is while forcing us to realize just how awful our sinfulness is.  

Incorporate this Truth into Your Prayers!

Prayer points based on Lamentations 3:22–23 focus on God's unfailing mercy, daily renewal, and steadfast love in times of trouble. 

          1.    Be Grateful for His Preservation

• Thank God that His steadfast love keeps you from being completely overwhelmed or consumed by your current trials.
• Declare that His grace sustains your life despite past mistakes or heavy burdens. 

     2. Receive His Fresh Mercy Each Day

• Ask God to wash away yesterday's guilt, failures, and anxieties with His brand-new morning mercies. Make the choice to confess and forsake any known sin.
• Pray for the mental and emotional capacity to let go of past regrets and embrace a clean slate today. 

     3. Trust in His Unfailing Compassion

• Pray against feelings of abandonment, reminding yourself that God's compassion does not run out or end.
• Ask the Holy Spirit to comfort your heart when facing uncertain circumstances or deep pain. 

     4. Declare His Faithfulness Boldly

• Praise God for His unchanging character, noting that His faithfulness does not depend on your own strength.
• Communicate stability and peace to your family, work, and future, anchored in His reliable promises. 

Conclusion:

The prophet, pondering his bitter afflictions, realizes how they have humbled his soul. He knows that God remembers the humble and afflicted, and so he expresses hope. Verses 22-39 speak of the poet’s reassurance in Jehovah’s goodness and his resignation to His sovereign ways. 22-24. His compassions fail not. The loving-kindness (ḥesed, “steadfast love”) of Jehovah is unfailing. It is daily renewed (like the manna of old); hence his people are not consumed, and a remnant remains as a seed for a new beginning. Great is thy faithfulness (v. 23). “Jehovah is my dearest treasure,” declares my soul, “therefore I do hope in him” (v. 24).^[1]

We have an Anchor that keeps the soul focused and productive! God’s steadfast love and mercy (His goodness) are everlasting, thus providing us fresh hope and a clean slate every single morning even during occasions when we deserve the worse…when we are getting what we have really earned. While facing the devastation of divine chastening, and in times of deep misery, God’s faithfulness remains as our undiminishing hope. This ‘anchor’ guarantees heavenly support in Christ to cope with the burdens we observe and feel so incredibly deeply.

Will your anchor hold in the storms of life,
When the clouds unfold their wings of strife?
When the strong tides lift, and the cables strain,
Will your anchor drift or firm remain?

We have an anchor that keeps the soul
Stedfast and sure while the billows roll,
Fastened to the Rock which cannot move,
Grounded firm and deep in the Savior’s love.

--Priscilla Jane Owens (1829-1907) and William James Kirkpatrick (1838-1921)

In the final analysis we must remember or reflect on the idea that God is good.

·        Psalm 100:5, For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

·        Psalm 106:1, Praise ye the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

·        Psalm 145:9, The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.

·        Nahum 1:7, The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.

·        Psalm 34:8, O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

This is your personal invitation to experience God directly! Encounter His life-giving ‘goodness’ by actively trusting this reality claim when life hurts the most rather than pridefully/blindly pushing through on your own power or merely mentally consenting to its accuracy.

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^[1] Charles F. Pfeiffer, The Wycliffe Bible Commentary: Old Testament (Chicago: Moody Press, 1962), La 3:19.

A Strong Anchor I

 

A Strong Anchor I

 

Lamentations 3:22-23, It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, Because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: Great is thy faithfulness.

Theme: God’s loving mercies never run out, and He offers us a fresh start and renewed strength daily. 

Relevance: A ‘leaving of the old situations behind’ is reason to hope again, even in the middle of our seriously painful experiences God’s compassions reach out to us still (Lam. 3:21–23). We all have been tempted to ‘bottle up’ our experiences… ‘bottle up’ our emotions…suppress or hide our true feelings instead of expressing or processing them with God’s eternal truth.

Introduction:

Jeremiah, while mourning the incredible devastation of Jerusalem by the Babylonian army, describes his pain and misery. This season is marked by intense physical and emotional aching in his soul. However, right in the middle of total despair, Jeremiah pauses to remember God’s character is good! This never-changing dynamic provides an anchor of hope the prophet desperately needs.

Child of God, God’s steadfast love and mercy have no end, thus providing us fresh hope and a clean slate every single morning even during occasions when we are getting what we really deserve! Even while facing the devastation of divine chastening, and in times of deep misery, God provides us with undiminishing hope. This ‘anchor’ certainly does not remove the outcomes of our broken choices or those of our love ones, but we do have divine help to deal with the internal turmoil before us and the heavy accompanying emotions.

Lessons:

Accept These Concepts with All Your Heart!

God gives us several ideas to take in thoughtfully….

     1.    God’s Compassion Prevents Complete Annihilation! "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed..."

o   We know people fail and deserve punishment. God’s grace stops total destruction; He could have been even more severe, but He chose not to. People survive only because God holds back His judgment.

• God’s love prevents complete destruction. The phrase "we are not consumed" shows that despite our faults or heavy trials, God’s enduring love shields and preserves us. 

     2.   God’s Tender Care Remains for Ever! "...because his compassions fail not."

• With a prayer to God to remember his bitter plight, yet with lingering depression over his misery (vv. 19, 20), the prophet gets his eyes off himself and onto the Lord. Hope is revived when he remembers that the Lord’s mercies and compassions … are new every morning, and that His faithfulness is great (vv. 21–24).^[1]
• God’s tender care does not quit or run dry. His pity and love stay strong, unchanged, and undiminished forever. 
• Mercies are renewed daily. God’s compassion does not run out or grow tired; His grace is freshly waiting for you when you wake up each day. 

3. God Is Able to Provide Comfort Even When We Have Made Serious Mistakes. "They are new every morning..."

• However, one thought (this I call to mind) crowded out the hopelessness that threatened to overwhelm him: Because of the Lord‘s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. Judah was down, but not out. God was punishing Judah for her sin, but did not reject her as His covenant people. ^[2]
• God gives fresh grace for each new day regardless. Yesterday’s mistakes or heavy burdens do not use up today’s supply of mercy. He comforts us with the guarantee of a new start!
• We have Hope within sorrows. This passage proves that hope can survive the darkest tragedies because God’s character never changes—He is constantly good. 

4. God’s Faithfulness Affords Us Continual Comfort! "...great is thy faithfulness."

• “Faithfulness” points to God’s firmness, steadiness, steadfastness, and fidelity!
• Was Judah’s deliverance from such a fate due to something in them? No, it was all due to the faithfulness of God. He had promised Abraham that He would make a nation come from him—and this was the nation. He had promised Moses that He would put them into the land. He had promised Joshua that He would establish them there. He promised David that there would come One in his line to reign on the throne forever. The prophets all said that God would not utterly destroy this people but that He would judge them for their sin. God is faithful. He has judged them, but He will not utterly destroy them. A faithful remnant has always remained, and ultimately they will become a great nation again.^[3]
• God always keeps His promises. People can trust Him completely because His character never changes. 
• Truly faithfulness lays in God. Our security relies on God’s great faithfulness to His character and promises rather than our own strength or weakness.

We desperately need to embrace this view of God and never dismiss it ever again. God is faithfully compassionate and merciful! Life is hard, circumstances can be unforgiving, but He is our stability in any storm of life. The fault is never with God, but it is always enmeshed in our sinfulness and the hardness of the conditions we have allowed. Take this revelation of God to heart and allow it to be the way you evaluate life and not how you scrutinize God!

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^[1] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 1032.

^[2] Charles H. Dyer, “Lamentations,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 1217.

^[3] J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible Commentary, electronic ed., vol. 3 (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1997), 431.

Still Growing in Christ

 

 "Still Growing in Christ"

Romans 5:3-4; 1 Timothy 4:15; Hebrews 5:14; James 1:2-4

 

Theme: The chances of being sidetracked increase with trouble and pain, but we must remain focused on learning of the Lord and drawing closer to Him.

Relevance:

Scripture frames pain as a brief test that builds endurance, spiritual strength, and eternal hope.

Introduction:

The idea of maturing in Christ is a subject we have given substantial thought to and have even taught this on a regular basis. Still the possibility of distraction exists, especially during painful experiences; we must focus ourselves on spiritual growth still. The following thoughts help us do just that.

Lesson:

God even Deals with Overcoming Hardships as a Positive Means to our Continuous Growth.   

     A.  Trials test our faith and produce endurance, which leads to spiritual completion and maturity. James 1:2-4, My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3, Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4, But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

     Believers can discover deeper joy during life’s hardships. Difficult times test and strengthen our faith, building patience—endurance. Enduring these tests with patience helps us grow spiritually mature, strong, and complete in our faith, lacking zero crucial qualities for life.

·       “Divers temptations” point to various trials, tests, or troubles sent to try our character, rather than enticements to sin.

·       “Count it all joy” is purposefully choose a mindset of complete holy gladness. This means changing how we view pain…reframing it to see it as a tool for growth instead of just another bad event.

·       “Patience” is steadfast endurance, perseverance, or the ability to remain strong under heavy pressure.

·       “Perfect and entire” or spiritually mature, fully developed, and whole in character, rather than completely sinless.

·       “Wanting nothing” refers to no essential spiritual quality or strength needed for life is missing.

The components that we can immediately adapt are surrounding learning—that is habitually learning with people devoted to God as the primary resource—especially those who are biblically successful in areas we desire progress. We must learn through others ministries. It may be shocking, but we really have incredibly few original thoughts.... Most biblical concepts typically came from someone else…which came from someone else…. This is fairly a humbling fact that helps us remain teachable—always seeking growth in the Lord. Yet, life is full of illustrations of brokenness eventuating into considerable growth:

·        Broken and Repaired: Pottery fixed with gold paint, showing that damage makes life unique.

·        The Heavy Load: A person carrying a big rock or giant book, showing how stress builds inner strength.

·        The Storm: A ship moving through big waves, showing bravery during scary changes.

Many Biblical and Historical Examples Demonstrate Using Faith to Face Challenges:

          ·       Joseph’s Pit to Palace: Sold into slavery and falsely imprisoned, Joseph learned humility, perseverance, and deep compassion. He later recognized that God used those hardships to preserve many lives (Genesis 50:20).

          ·       Corrie ten Boom’s Prison Experience: Imprisoned in a Nazi concentration camp where she lost her family, Corrie ten Boom learned firsthand that “no matter how deep our pit, God’s love is deeper still.”

          ·       John Bunyan in Bedford Jail: Arrested for preaching without a license, Bunyan used his time in confinement to write The Pilgrim’s Progress, an enduring Christian allegory of persevering through life’s trials.

     B. Suffering produces perseverance, character, and hope, not quitting and giving up. Romans 5:3-4, “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope:”

     Christ’s followers can rejoice during hard times because tough situations build inner strength. Enduring trials leads to proven character, which then builds a strong and confident hope. 

·       “Tribulations” are hardships, pressures, troubles, or suffering.

·       “Glory in” is to rejoice or exult in, not because pain is good, but because of what God achieves through it.

·       “Worketh patience” or produces endurance, steadfastness, or the ability to remain under pressure without giving up.

·       “Experience” is proven character, testing, or spiritual maturity that has stood the test of time.

·       “Hope” is a certain, confident expectation of God’s promises and eternal good that does not disappoint.

Believers can find joy and purpose in these hard times. Difficult trials build patience, patience builds proven character, and that character strengthens a confident, unshakeable hope in God. We conscientiously reframe suffering as a tool for spiritual growth rather than a punishment.

·       Reflect on the Refiner’s Fire: Precious metals like silver and gold are heated intensely so that impurities rise to the top and can be skimmed off. A refiner knows the process is complete only when he can see his own reflection mirrored in the metal.

·       Meditate on the Next Mile Wisdom: Reminiscent of early explorers facing a daunting 450-mile wilderness trek, the best advice is often given by an old guide: “Just think about the next mile you have to go, never about all 450.” Faith calls believers to trust God for daily, step-by-step grace (Matthew 6:34).

C. It is Extremely Helpful to Note the Spiritual Progression! These verses outline a step-by-step chain reaction in our lives:

     ·       Trial comes first.

     ·       Patience is forged by surviving the trial.

     ·       Character is shaped by long-term patience.

     ·       Hope is the final outcome, rooted deeply in God’s love.

     D.  God in His Wisdom Gives Us Visual Symbols of Growth to Help Us Stay with It and Not Quit.

·        The Mountain Climb: A small person walking up a steep and rocky hill. This shows that reaching the top takes hard work.

·        The Lotus Flower: A pretty flower growing out of thick, dirty mud. It tells us that beauty and wisdom come from bad places.

·        The Kink in the Tree: A tree trunk with a sharp bend that keeps growing tall anyway. It proves that scars do not stop life.

Conclusion:

There must be no genuine differences in our personal philosophy and these thoughts presented in the Word. Concentration in the Scriptures will always be greater than our ideas, but the impressions of mentoring, training our minds to think, and processing godly concepts are all components we must take ownership. There are helpful disciplines we must adopt:

     ·       Fix your eyes on Jesus: Hebrews 12:2 encourages looking past the immediate trial to Jesus, the author and finisher of faith.

     ·       Reframe the pain as temporary: 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 notes that outer struggles are light and momentary compared to unseen eternal glory.

     ·       Keep on praying without ceasing: Philippians 4:6-7 tells us to swap anxiety for prayer and thanksgiving to receive God’s peace.

     ·       Depend on God’s daily grace: 2 Corinthians 12:9 reminds us that God’s power is made perfect in weakness. 

Learning during hardships means growing stronger through hard times. We grow wiser when we face dark days, pain, difficulties, or heavy work. Beloved, learning of Christ who points constantly to God must be the goal for us. We will enjoy discovering truths and insights we’ve never seen or thought about before. Consider, the Spark in the Dark: A small light bulb or glowing star shining in a black room. It means a new idea is born from trouble.

Child of God, Recall the Deep-Rooted Sapling: Trees that grow in sheltered, easy environments develop shallow roots. Hard winds, storms, and rocky soil force a tree’s roots to go deep into the earth, resulting in a core strength that withstands future devastation. (Unknown)

The scriptures should always be the final authority in every matter. If the subject was not important enough for God to address it directly or in principle in the Bible, then it is okay for us to be quiet about it as well. You and I may have a personal preference, but that’s all it is…a personal preference. We are not free to elevate that idea to a requirement or standard for others. Know that trials deepen faith, build character, and produce resilient hope.

Today there are many avenues to ingest more Bible content and godly substance. Though we must proceed with real caution, much can be learned as we apply ourselves. We may study more Bible chapters, read more helpful commentaries and books, listen to solid podcasts, watch spiritually edifying videos, listen to inspiring individuals speak in person, set under God-centered preaching and teaching, pay close attention to a panel that’s assembled with godly growth in mind, and many other ways to expose our hearts to God’s truth. There are notable benefits relationally, emotionally, spiritually, mentally, and experientially for such endeavors. God works powerfully through a willingness to submit ourselves to His authority in our lives. It is wise to cultivate a holy fear of God as we endeavor. So, take seriously this effort to intentionally learn and develop in the Lord. A life could not be better spent learning and obeying Him.