Looking Unto Jesus
Month 12: Sent & Standing Firm · Heart Matters
Today's Scripture
Read together: Hebrews 12:2
2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Memory Verse
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us.”— Hebrews 12:1 (BSB)
📖 Bible-in-a-Year (optional)
Today's reading: Hosea 12-14
Reading the whole Bible in a year — do this when you have extra time. (Hosea ends with a gentle invitation: "Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God.")The Heart of It
Yesterday we met the cheering crowd. Today we meet the One we actually run toward. The verse says we "fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith." A runner who keeps glancing back at the crowd will stumble. So will one who looks down at his sore feet, or sideways at the runner next to him. Champions keep their eyes locked on the finish line. For us, the finish line is a Person. It's Jesus. And notice the two words. He is the author of our faith. He's the One who started it in us. He is also the perfecter. He's the One who will complete it. You didn't begin following God by yourself, and you won't finish by yourself either. From the first step to the last, it's His doing in you. And He invites you to run with all your heart.
Then comes the most encouraging part. Jesus, "for the joy set before Him, endured the cross." He ran the worst stretch of road ever, the cross, because He was looking ahead to the joy of saving you and bringing you home to God. That's where this becomes a heart matter. When your eyes are full of your problems, your fears, or other people's opinions, your heart sinks. But you can fix your eyes on Jesus. He loved you enough to endure the cross, and now He is seated victorious. When you do that, your heart steadies. Looking to Jesus isn't just a nice idea. It's how a tired heart finds fresh strength to keep going.
Around the Table
When you run, you look where you're going! We "look at Jesus" by thinking about Him and talking to Him.
Let's do it: Cover your eyes, spin once, then point where you think the door is. Now try with eyes open. Seeing helps! Say, "I keep my eyes on Jesus."
A racer who keeps looking back or sideways will trip. What kinds of things pull your eyes off Jesus during the week?
Let's talk: What does it look like, in a normal day, to "look to Jesus"? Think about school, a screen, or being with friends.
Jesus is "author and perfecter." He began your faith, and He will complete it. That's real security for the one who keeps abiding in Him.
Let's go deeper: When you're discouraged, do you tend to fix your eyes on your feelings, your performance, or your Savior? How could you re-aim this week?
💬 Conversation Starter
Try to walk across the room while staring only at the ceiling. What happens? How is that like trying to follow Jesus while you stare at everything but Him?
🛡️ Defending the Faith
Christianity is not just about good behavior. It's about a real, risen Person we keep our eyes on. When friends treat Jesus as merely a wise teacher, you can gently say He claimed far more. He endured the cross, and He rose again. That's why we follow Him, not just His advice. Speak it with the kindness and respect of .
For Dad · Go Deeper
"Looking to Jesus" is the gospel cure for the two diseases that quietly wreck Christian dads. The first is legalism, with eyes on my own performance. The second is despair, with eyes on my own failure. Both keep the gaze fixed on self. Hebrews redirects it. Jesus authored your faith, and He will perfect it. That means your perseverance ultimately rests on His faithfulness as you keep abiding in Him, not on your flawless effort. This is the warm, settled assurance of the one who stays close to Christ. It is not a careless guarantee for the runner who abandons the race. It is solid hope for the runner who keeps his eyes on the finish. Let your kids see a father who, when he fails, doesn't quit the race in shame but lifts his eyes again to Jesus. That re-fixing of the gaze, over and over, is the rhythm of a faith that finishes.
Draws on: Tony Evans, The Power of God's Names.
Let's Pray Together
"Lord Jesus, You began our faith, and You will finish it. When we get distracted or discouraged, help us lift our eyes back to You. Thank You for going to the cross because You love us. Keep our family looking to You all the way home. In Jesus' name, amen."
Whatever pulls my eyes away today, I can always look back up at Jesus.