February 24, 2003 Monday
Experiencing His Joy

"Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which does so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 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..." (Hebrews 12:1,2)

It seams unimaginable in our minds the great joy our Lord experienced in the passion of His sufferings and death, yet we see it described as "joy that was set before him". Our idea of joy is one that is based upon our circumstances, but the joy that the Lord experienced was true joy that flowed from a sincere heart of love and passion, not based upon situations and surroundings, but centered around doing His Father's will. Jesus once said, "your sorrow shall be turned into joy" and "your joy no man taketh from you." (John 16:20, 22) One of our greatest hindrances to experiencing this true joy in our own lives is our focus; our eyes become focused on things around us when they should be "looking unto Jesus", the one who is in us, "who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame". Are you focused, "looking unto Jesus", and experiencing the joy that He has set before you?