What Is The Secret

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance 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, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  

Hebrews 12:1-2 

How shall we live the life of faith? The writer of Hebrews refers to all our predecessors as the great cloud of witnesses. The heroes of the faith who he named in the previous chapter comprise that great cloud along with all the other redeemed of all ages. They have gone before us and died in faith. He begins to address us by speaking of our laying aside all the things that would hinder us from success in running the race of faith. These are ‘every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us.’ There are things we must address if we are to successfully live the life of faith. Unpleasantly much of professing Christendom, especially those who emphasize all the obligations and image management, stop here and expound at length all our duties, but fail utterly to get us to the next portion which is the secret of the life of faith. The secret of the life of faith is ‘looking unto Jesus.’ We look to Christ for justification. We look to Christ for our sanctification. For us to succeed in running with endurance, we must look to Him Who is, ‘the author and finisher of our faith.’ The contemplation of Christ leads to the imitation of Christ.  

Our Wise and Gracious God, 
we rejoice that You always hold Christ before us. 
We praise You that as we look unto Him, 
we learn to live the life of faith.  

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning