2023 Our Year of Refocusing
Text: Hebrews 12:1-3 Date: Sunday 8 th January 2023
The word focus means, to be the centre of interest, seeing clearly, not being distracted, to concentrate on a given subject.
We are compassed about with a great cloud of witnesses, in the day of this writing the writer of the book of Hebrews, draws our attention to the large coliseum of the day in which spectators would pile in, filling the arenas to capacity in anticipation of a great race.
The writer refers to those spectators as “A great cloud of witnesses” in this case he is referring to, among others the heroes of faith listed in Hebrews 11. Those heroes willingly endured unimaginable testings, troubles, ridicules and persecutions; they were totally focused on the prize which they would receive.
Believers, we are in a race which is the ultimate of races, and as such, in 2023 we must “Lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily beset us”.
What is your “The sin” what is the one thing or area in your life which has been your Achilles heel historically?
If we are going to win in 2023, we must purposefully make up our minds to rid ourselves of everything which represents weights and sins in our lives.
Look at the attitude and disposition of the runners in the stadiums; some have headphones on, listening to some form of motivation; they all stand and gaze at the finishing line.
What are they doing? They are visualising themselves crossing the finishing line, not only finishing but winning the race.
The writer of our text encourages us to look unto Jesus because He is the supreme and ultimate example of enduring trust and focus.
Jesus kept in front of His eyes the prize which awaited Him, namely the
the culmination of all things being subjected to Him, the gathering together of His children of all ages with Him forever.
Brothers and Sisters; in 2023 let’s refocus our hearts and minds on Jesus, consider what He has been through for you and me, let’s keep on running because we will surely win. (Philippians 1:6).
God bless,
