Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus
12/18/2025
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
— Hebrews 12:2 (NIV)
Everyday, our life and focus gets pulled in a hundred different directions. Deadlines, disappointments, regrets from the past, fears about the future, all of them compete for our attention. And what we focus on often determines how we run the race set before us.
The writer of Hebrews gives us a simple but demanding instruction: fix your eyes on Jesus. Not glance. Not check in occasionally. Fix. Lock in. Stay focused.
I am by no means a runner, especially a long-distance runner. I do however know a few and they have shared an interesting that happens as they near the final stretch of a race. Their body is tired, lungs burning, legs screaming to stop. If they keep looking at the pain, the crowd, or the runners passing them, they may falter. But if they fix their eyes on the finish line, something changes. Purpose pushes them forward.
Jesus is our finish line. More than that, He is both the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. He started this journey ahead of us, carving the path, and He will carry it through to completion. When Jesus endured the cross, He didn’t ignore the pain; He endured it. He didn’t deny the shame; He scorned it. Why? Because He saw joy on the other side. He saw your redemption, your restoration, your forever with God.
When you’re weary, tempted to quit, or overwhelmed by the weight of life, this verse reminds us that faith isn’t about white-knuckling our way through hardship. It’s about shifting our focus. When our eyes are on Jesus, suffering doesn’t get the final word. He does.
So today, whatever race you’re running, marriage struggles, leadership pressure, grief, uncertainty, lift your gaze. Jesus is not behind you demanding more. He is ahead of you, inviting you forward.
• Begin your day by naming one distraction that has pulled your focus from Christ and consciously release it in prayer.
• Spend five uninterrupted minutes reading the Gospels, asking God to help you see Jesus more clearly.
• When stress rises today, pause and ask, “Where are my eyes right now?”
Today’s challenge:
Every time you feel discouraged, verbally say, “I fix my eyes on Jesus,” and let that declaration reset your perspective.
Prayer:
Jesus, I confess how easily my eyes drift to my problems, my fears, and my shortcomings. Today, I choose to fix my eyes on You. Thank You for enduring the cross for the joy of redeeming me. When I grow weary, remind me that You have gone before me and You are still leading me forward. Strengthen my faith and help me run with perseverance. Amen.
Pastor Jeff
#LoveGod #LovePeople #FindFreedom #FindYourDesign
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
— Hebrews 12:2 (NIV)
Everyday, our life and focus gets pulled in a hundred different directions. Deadlines, disappointments, regrets from the past, fears about the future, all of them compete for our attention. And what we focus on often determines how we run the race set before us.
The writer of Hebrews gives us a simple but demanding instruction: fix your eyes on Jesus. Not glance. Not check in occasionally. Fix. Lock in. Stay focused.
I am by no means a runner, especially a long-distance runner. I do however know a few and they have shared an interesting that happens as they near the final stretch of a race. Their body is tired, lungs burning, legs screaming to stop. If they keep looking at the pain, the crowd, or the runners passing them, they may falter. But if they fix their eyes on the finish line, something changes. Purpose pushes them forward.
Jesus is our finish line. More than that, He is both the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. He started this journey ahead of us, carving the path, and He will carry it through to completion. When Jesus endured the cross, He didn’t ignore the pain; He endured it. He didn’t deny the shame; He scorned it. Why? Because He saw joy on the other side. He saw your redemption, your restoration, your forever with God.
When you’re weary, tempted to quit, or overwhelmed by the weight of life, this verse reminds us that faith isn’t about white-knuckling our way through hardship. It’s about shifting our focus. When our eyes are on Jesus, suffering doesn’t get the final word. He does.
So today, whatever race you’re running, marriage struggles, leadership pressure, grief, uncertainty, lift your gaze. Jesus is not behind you demanding more. He is ahead of you, inviting you forward.
• Begin your day by naming one distraction that has pulled your focus from Christ and consciously release it in prayer.
• Spend five uninterrupted minutes reading the Gospels, asking God to help you see Jesus more clearly.
• When stress rises today, pause and ask, “Where are my eyes right now?”
Today’s challenge:
Every time you feel discouraged, verbally say, “I fix my eyes on Jesus,” and let that declaration reset your perspective.
Prayer:
Jesus, I confess how easily my eyes drift to my problems, my fears, and my shortcomings. Today, I choose to fix my eyes on You. Thank You for enduring the cross for the joy of redeeming me. When I grow weary, remind me that You have gone before me and You are still leading me forward. Strengthen my faith and help me run with perseverance. Amen.
Pastor Jeff
#LoveGod #LovePeople #FindFreedom #FindYourDesign
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