Another Cloud is Watching Us

Is there something you despise? If so, our sweet Lord Jesus Christ can relate. Have you ever considered how much Jesus despised everything that happened surrounding His crucifixion? The injustice. The lies said about Him? The upside down statements said so that truth was made out to be a lie and lies were made out to be truth. The mob mentality that switched from singing His praises to shouting, “Crucify Him!”  Oh, yes, friends, if you’re going through something and you despise it, you have a friend in Jesus. He can relate. Yet, our sweet Savior suffered through the despising ordeal in order to not only give us a start in our Christian walk but to also make sure that our faith is perfected, complete, and finished. Hebrews 12:1-2 tells us now to follow Christ’s example. “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author, and PERFECTER of FAITH, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” We have a race to run in this life even as Jesus did. We may not like it. We may, in fact, despise it. Yet God has set before us the joy of heaven, of being reunited with loved ones, of living in eternity where there is no sin and no shame. We may feel like we’re all alone. But let’s not be fooled. There is a “great cloud of witnesses surrounding us.” What do they see as they observe us? Are we pouting or worshipping? Is our face fixed on Jesus and so our countenance reflecting Him? Or, are we succumbing to ideas of worst-case scenarios and walking around like we don’t have a Savior? This is our time to shine forth for Jesus, to live for the joy set before us, to pray like never before. What is the great cloud of witnesses observing about us today?

Lord Jesus, we praise You, the FINISHER of OUR FAITH!