Trailblazer

July 24

Read: hebrews 12:1,2

Trailblazer

“…looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Jesus is the trailblazer who leads the way in our faith. Imagine walking into a dense jungle… Jesus takes the lead with a machete and clears a way for us to walk through. Jesus is the first one who goes ahead of us into the unknown… and he is the first to face any trial or danger that lies ahead before we ever come face to face with it. This truth brings us assurance and hope. Although we cannot see what the future holds, the Lord goes before us. This is what it means when it says that Jesus is the “author” or “founder” of our faith.

Jesus does not stop there. Jesus is also the “perfecter” of our faith. Jesus is “following up the rear” and “covering our 6”. Jesus literally has our back! He is the starter or originator of our faith as well as the one who completes it and brings it to fruition. We are surrounded by Jesus… wrapped up with him. When we look forward… we see Jesus. When we turn to look back… we see Jesus. He is with us always.

Just how powerful is it to look ahead and see Jesus as your trailblazer? Notice this phrase in v.2: “who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame…” Jesus looked ahead of himself and saw a future joy waiting for him. It was the “joy that was set before him”. This “ahead of him joy” carried him through (he “endured”) the intense suffering of the cross and the shame that came with it. With Jesus both within us and set before us we look yo him… he is OUR “joy that is set before us”, so that when we must bear the burdens of our own God-given purpose and mission in this world (our own “cross” that Jesus calls us to pick up) we too can “endure the cross and despise the shame”. (cf. Luke 14:27, etc.) Jesus as the author and perfecter of our faith… the founder of our faith… he is the one that leads us… and sometimes carries us… and WILL complete and perfect his work in us. (cf. Phil. 1:6) We look ahead to Jesus, the one “seated at the right hand of the throne of God”. This is how we “run with endurance the race that is set before us” by “looking to Jesus the founder and perfecter of our faith.” No matter what is in your past - behind you - Jesus is redeeming it, working it out, perfecting you no matter what. No matter what lies ahead in the future unknown, Jesus is facing it first and leading the way for you. Look to him today. Love you guys! - JDP