Lutheran Devotional 13th August 2025, Wednesday Message
TOPIC: Looking to Jesus
SCRIPTURE: Hebrews 11:17a, 19a, 20-21a, 23a, 24-25a, 29a, 12:1-3
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– By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac …. He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead …. By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph …. By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents …. By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God …. By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land …. Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 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. Consider Him who endured from sinners such hostility against Himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.
TODAY’S MESSAGE
Do you remember the Presidential Fitness tests we used to have to take during middle school? I hated the test where we had to run a mile as fast as we could. I normally came in last—and the whole class had to wait for me to finish, five or ten minutes behind the next-to-last person. How embarrassing! There I was, feeling like I was dying, trying desperately to reach the finish line. I could only handle it by imagining that the person who loved me most in the world was standing there, urging me on. Yes, of course—I thought of Jesus.
Years later we learned I had both asthma and unstable joints. No wonder I did so poorly! And yet, the fact that I finished at all was due to Jesus—because even a sick turtle like me will do her best to get to the One who loves me! And that is true in the challenges of my daily life as well.
That’s what the writer of Hebrews is doing—he’s encouraging us to “run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the Founder and Perfecter of our faith.” It’s the only way we’re going to get through some of our troubles, as terrible as they are. If we look at the challenges that face us, we’re likely to give up. But with our eyes on Him who loves us, we will finish—and then we’ll be with Him, and who could ask for anything better?
I didn’t realize it at the time, but Jesus Himself did the same thing in reverse. As this passage says, “Jesus … for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame.” As He kept going through all His suffering, Jesus too was fixing His eyes on something He wanted with all His heart. What was it? It was you. You, and me, and all God’s people—all the ones He was saving through His death and resurrection. We are His prize.
WE PRAY: Dear Lord, You are my prize and treasure, just as I am Yours. Keep my eyes always on You. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
- Do you enjoy running? Why or why not?
- How do you get through hard times in life?
- Why does Jesus treasure you so much?
Today’s Readings:
1 Chronicles 7-9
1 Corinthians 7:20-40
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
