Mensa Otabil - Looking Unto Jesus
- Watch
- Donate
Welcome to day number 26 of our 40 days of power. By God’s grace, we’re making progress, and I trust that the strength of the Lord is filling your heart. We’re looking at the topic «Looking unto Jesus.»
Hebrews chapter 12, verse 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 has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.» Jesus Christ is the center of our Christian faith; we live our lives through Him and by Him. The passage says that we must look unto Jesus. It’s a very important statement because when you look through the Bible, you will see many characters. You will see people like Abraham, Moses, Paul, John the Baptist, and David. These are important figures in the Bible, but our faith is not in them, and we do not look up to them. Jesus is our supreme role model, and the passage explains that because of that, He is the author and finisher of our faith.
That word «author» means originator. Without Him, there is no Christianity; it has no beginning and no life. He is the life source of our faith; He is the foundation on which we build our Christian commitment. Therefore, Jesus is the author of everything that we believe in. If you want salvation, He is the author of salvation. If you want healing, He is the author of healing. If you want prosperity, He is the author of prosperity. For whatever we need as Christians, Jesus is the author of it.
Then the passage also says He is the author and finisher. The word «finisher» means perfecter or the one who completes our faith. He is the one who brings all the pieces back together; He offers it and completes it. It’s almost like writing a book: He starts the book and finishes it. So when He starts with your salvation, He starts it and finishes it. Whether it’s healing, prosperity, or abundance, He is the author and the finisher of it.
Then the passage goes on to describe something about Jesus, stating that because of the joy that was set before Him, He endured the cross. This is a picture of the character of Jesus; He always looked forward with joy, with expectation, with hope. No matter how difficult things were before Him, the joy ahead of Him propelled Him. That is how He wants us to live our lives. We do not live our lives just looking at the immediate problem; we look at our lives focusing on the joy of the Lord, the victory that God is going to bring us, and what He has accomplished for us. Because of this, the Bible says Jesus endured the cross; He went through hardship because He had joy ahead of Him.
Today, I just want you to know that there is joy ahead of us, there is victory ahead of us, and no matter the suffering or difficulty of this present time, there is victory at the end for us. For the joy that is set before us, we overcome and we rule through Christ Jesus. So let’s look to Jesus when we are faced with every challenge in life because there is hope for our future. Why don’t we share a word of prayer together as we meditate on these words? Say with me: Heavenly Father, today I look to Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith. I boldly declare that every pain and shame in my life will end in joy and victory in Jesus' name. Amen and amen. Well, it’s been a great time with you. Pastor Mensa Otabil. Shalom, peace, and life to you.