Holy Week Monday

 

The great lawyer turned Pastor and writer, E.M. Bounds had a lot to say about faith and prayer. He notes that, “Faith is the foundation of Christian character and the security of the soul.” He also points out that, “when faith ceases to pray, it ceases to live.” In our walk with, and in Christ Jesus our Lord, we first become curious about Him. You do not put your faith in someone you do not know; relationship moves at the speed of trust. You learn about Him by reading the Bible and noting His character, words, deeds, and promises. You listen to sermons and podcasts as well as the testimonies of other Christians; asking them questions and watching their lives to see if they are really any different than people who don’t believe in Jesus.

 

Unfortunately, you will never get every question answered and see all the proof you want; at some point Jesus calls you to have FAITH in Him and the Holy Spirit takes that mustard seed of faith and grows it into a fruitful life of faithfulness. Jesus is the” author and perfecter of our faith.”

 

As Holy Week began yesterday, we focus our attention and affection fully on Jesus’ journey to the cross, His resurrection, and our faith-filled response as He sits at the right hand of God.

 

“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 set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”                                                                            -  Hebrews 12:1-3 NASB

Jesus endured the wrath of our sin on the cross to establish a bridge for sinners to become saints and be reunited for all eternity with the Father. As we exalt Him in praise we respect and respond to His glory and fix our eyes and our faith on Jesus to run the race He has placed before us with endurance, knowing He is the joy set before us.

Scripture tells us, “The joy of the Lord is our strength,” and I like to remind people that the strength of the Lord is our joy. He who began a good work in you will see it to completion. You are established in faith!