Category: First Things First Devotional

For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, so that you won’t grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:3 HCSB

Anxiety and Depression Association of America reports:
* Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults in the United States age 18 and older (18% of U.S. population).
* Anxiety disorders are highly treatable, yet only about one-third of those suffering receive treatment.
* Anxiety disorders cost the U.S. more than $42 billion a year, almost one-third of the country’s $148 billion total mental health bill, according to “The Economic Burden of Anxiety Disorders,” a study commissioned by ADAA (The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 60(7), July 1999).

It is common for a person to have anxiety and become discouraged. We all will become discouraged at some point in our lives. We sometimes lose sight of the big picture and focus only on our problems and hardships. Jesus has already endured much more than we will ever face in our lives. Therefore, we can look to Him when we become discouraged and depressed. Suffering is often considered the training ground for believers. It develops maturity and patience and makes victory even sweeter when we overcome.

Challenge: Do not lose heart; there are no hardships or problems that you are facing that Jesus has not already faced. When difficulties come your way, turn to Him for help and direction. He will help you overcome your problem, discouragement, and depression.

Let us run with endurance the race the lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame and has sat down at the right hand of God’s throne. Hebrews 12:1b-2 HCSB

Textinganddrivingsafety.com reports texting while driving is a growing trend and a national epidemic, quickly becoming one of the country’s top killers. Drivers assume they can handle texting while driving and remain safe, but numbers do not lie.

Texting while driving causes:
1. 1,600,000 accidents per year – National Safety Council;
2. 330,000 injuries per year – Harvard Center for Risk Analysis Study;
3. 11 teen deaths EVERY DAY – Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Fatality Facts;
4. Nearly 25% of ALL car accidents.
It is obvious that it is important to keep one’s eyes on the road while driving.

The writer of Hebrews says that as believers it is important to keep our eyes on Jesus. Jesus will show us the way to live our lives in a way that we will have abundant joy and bring honor to God. We also need to see that Jesus suffered and endured the cross for us. As believers we may be called upon to suffer and endure pain for the sake of the Gospel message. But we can endure the suffering if we will only keep our eyes on Jesus and follow His example.

Challenge: Are you distracted by the things of this world? Are you having difficulty keeping your eyes on Jesus? Make a commitment to spend time with the Lord each day, reading His Word and praying. Keep your focus on serving God and bringing glory to Him in everything you do.

Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Hebrews 12:1a HCSB

I have fond memories of the many days I sat in the bleachers and cheered for my sons as they played little league baseball and basketball. My daughters were involved in dance, and I enjoyed attending recitals as they performed the dances they had learned. Every parent should be on the sidelines cheering for their children and encouraging them not only in sports, but also when they earn good grades, receive an award, or even when they are discouraged and fail. Children need the love and encouragement of their parents. Every child wants to hear their parents say, “I am proud of you.”

As believers we have a huge crowd of witnesses who are constantly encouraging us. Some are the heroes of faith as described in Chapter 11, but some are with us today. Fellow believers come along side of us to support us and help us when we face trials and difficulties. When we struggle, we do not struggle alone. Others have run the race before us; they have faced difficulties and trials and have overcome. Their witness stirs us to run the race and persevere to the end, keeping our eyes on Jesus.

Challenge: Thank God for the many witnesses who have gone on before you and have left a godly legacy to follow. Praise Him for the believers in your life who help you, support you, and mentor you. Be of help to other believers by encouraging them to run the race and keep their eyes on Jesus.

Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, Hebrews 12:1 HCSB

In one of the episodes of the television show “The Biggest Loser,” the contestants who had lost the most weight were required to pick up weights equal to the amount of weight he or she had lost and carry the weight in a race against the other contestants. The extra weight was cumbersome and caused them to slow down. The point of the exercise was to show the contestants that they really did not ever want to gain the weight back they had lost because it would be a hindrance to them in doing any activity.

This verse in Hebrews reminds us that sin is like a weight that slows us down. Sin ensnares us and keeps us from doing what we know to be right and from bringing glory to God. We are all on the race of life. It began when we were born. Life will bring many challenges and Satan will strive to ensnare us and keep us from accomplishing our goal of becoming more like Jesus and bringing honor and glory to God.

Challenge: Of what in your life do you need to rid yourself? What is keeping you from serving the Lord? Pray that God will reveal the entrapments that need to be shed from your life and the pursuits that you need to take up to bring glory to God.

By faith Noah, after he was warned about what was not yet seen and motivated by godly fear, built an ark to deliver his family. By faith he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. Hebrews 11:7 HCSB

Just imagine the faith that Noah had to have to build a large boat in the middle of dry land not even near any water. Some Bible scholars believe that it had actually never rained prior to the flood. Each morning there would be a heavy dew that covered the ground that watered the earth. Assuredly Noah’s neighbors and friends laughed at him and thought he was crazy, but Noah had faith in God and believed all God told him would happen. He faithfully spent years building a large boat and listening to the jeers of those around him.

Because of Noah’s obedience to God, he experienced rejection. As believers we can expect to face ridicule and rejection when we follow God and display faith in Him. When a person obeys God, it often puts him at odds with the world’s values and beliefs. Because of Noah’s simple faith, he saved his family and became an heir to righteousness.

Challenge: If God asks you to do something, obey, have faith, and trust God to provide everything you need to accomplish the task. Ask God to give you the strength and wisdom to always follow His plan for your life even when others may think you are crazy.

Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him. Hebrews 11:6 HCSB

As a youth pastor, I took a group of young people to Hawaii on a mission trip. We conducted Vacation Bible Schools, gave puppet shows, and assisted with some construction work. We were also able to visit some sights and enjoy some time on the beach. In one location there was a large rock jutting up out of the water from the ocean floor. There were people jumping and diving off of the rock into the water below. The young people challenged me to jump, so I made my way to the top of the rock. When I looked over the side of the 30 foot cliff into the clear blue waters below that were about 30 feet deep, I felt as though I was standing on a 6 story building. It was scary and I backed away. I realized instantly that if I stopped and looked down, I would never jump. Some of the local people gave me instructions on how to jump without injury. After watching several others jump, I finally got up enough nerve, courage, and belief in myself to take the plunge. I did not look down – I
just took a big step toward the edge and kept going. It was frightening but exhilarating. I did not want to do it a second time, but I had done it!

Having faith is somewhat like jumping off a cliff. It is a bit risky and you don’t know what the future holds, but you take that jump and go. Believing in God is just the beginning. The Bible tells us that even the demons believe in Jesus Christ and God (James 2:19-20). God desires for us to have total faith and trust Him; to jump into His arms, knowing that He will protect us and take care of us. He desires to have a personal relationship with each of us. Those who seek God and trust Him will be rewarded with an abundant life filled with excitement.

Challenge: Trust God! Take a leap of faith. It is impossible to please God without faith. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. He wants to have an intimate relationship with you that is only possible through faith.

By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was approved as a righteous man, because God approved his gifts, and even though he is dead, he still speaks through his faith. Hebrews 11:4 HCSB

Cain and Abel were the sons of Adam and Eve. Abel was a rancher and took care of animals while Cain was a farmer and cultivated crops. Abel offered an animal sacrifice to God while Cain offered an offering from his crops. God was pleased with Abel’s offering, while Cain’s offering was considered to be unacceptable. Some Bible scholars suggest that Abel’s offering was more acceptable because it was an animal and required shedding of blood. More importantly, Abel came to God with the correct attitude and brought his best, while Cain came with the wrong attitude and with crops that were not his best.

This verse in Hebrews records that Abel’s offering was more acceptable because of his faith. He is listed along with two others who are known for their abundance of faith. This is an indicator that God is more interested in the heart of a person rather than the actual sacrifice. He desires for someone to come to Him with a humble and repentant heart. He also desires someone who has faith in God and is willing to trust Him. Evidently Abel had more faith and trust than Cain. Another indication that Cain did not have the proper attitude is that he deceived his brother and killed him out of jealousy. You can read more about Cain and Abel in Genesis 5-7.

Challenge: Do you have the proper attitude toward God? Do you have faith and trust God? Obviously, Abel is a model of faith. Who has been a model of faith for you? How are you demonstrating faith to others?

By faith we understand that the universe was created by God’s command, so that what is seen has been made from things that are not visible. Hebrews 11:3 HCSB

Recently our church hosted a program called “Answers in Genesis”. The Creation Museum in northern Kentucky was created by the organization called Answers in Genesis. They are proponents that God created the world in seven literal days just as the Bible says and that the earth is only thousands of years old instead of millions of years old as some scientist believe. The speaker presented a convincing view that God did create the world and everything in it and that we must accept God’s Word and the stories in Genesis as factual truth without error.

This verse in Hebrews confirms what Genesis says, that God called the universe and all creation into existence out of nothing. He spoke and it was done. By faith we accept that God created the entire universe. God is an awesome, powerful Creator who is able through His spoken Word to bring a universe into existence.

Challenge: Realize how powerful God is. Realize how powerful God’s Word is. God speaks to you today through His Holy Word, the Bible. When He speaks, do you listen? How do you respond when God speaks? Visit https://answersingenesis.org/ to discover more answers from Genesis. Visit the Creation Museum if you have the opportunity.

Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. Hebrews 11:1 HCSB

It was Christmas and our children so wanted and hoped for a Nintendo game system. With each gift opened we could see the excitement and expectation on their faces, hoping they would get the new game system that all of the other children seemed to already have. They had seemingly opened all the gifts, but there had been no Nintendo. Disappointment was on their faces and their heads seemed to drop as they realized there would be no Nintendo at the Moore house. But alas, there was one last gift from Grandmother and Grandfather that was brought out from behind the Christmas tree. All four of our children tore the red ribbon off the top and then began to tear the wrapping paper off the box. When they realized it was a Nintendo, they all screamed with excitement. For hours they took turns playing the Nintendo What they had hoped for, they had truly received.

Hebrews 11:1 is a familiar passage that many people have memorized about faith. Some have said that this verse defines faith. Faith is trusting in God; it is the foundation of hope. When someone has faith, he hopes for something that he has not yet seen or experienced. Believers place their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord, trusting in God’s promise that those who believe in Him will be forgiven and receive eternal life. We have not yet seen what eternal life is like, but by faith we trust God that He will keep His promise that someday we will receive and experience eternal life where there is no pain or suffering.

Challenge: Do you have faith in God? Do you trust in His promises? God is trustworthy. He always keeps His promises. By faith, trust in Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior and you can be assured that your hope for eternal life will someday become a reality.

Therefore, He is the mediator of a New Covenant, so that those who are called might receive the promise of the eternal inheritance, because a death has taken place for redemption from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. Hebrews 9:15 HCSB

Adam and Eve disobeyed a directive from God not to eat of the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden. They stepped over the line and violated God’s plan. In so doing, they willfully refused to do God’s will. There are many times we all willfully step over the line and do something that is against God’s plan for our lives.

The Greek term “redemption” has the connotation of “liberation” or “to be set free”. The Greek term “transgressions” means “violations”. Those who believe in Jesus Christ have been set free from transgressions. Under the law the people were constantly in violation of breaking the rules and continually needed to bring offerings to be sacrificed. Christ’s death on the cross made it possible for people to be redeemed from sins’ power and eternal consequences.

Challenge: Have you stepped over the line? Have you willfully disobeyed God? Thank Him that through His Son, Jesus Christ, the price has been paid for your transgressions and He has set you free. You now have the promise of forgiveness and an eternal inheritance.