r/gospel

1 Peter 3:8–12

These verses call us to live in love and unity, to turn away from evil and seek peace, because the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their prayer.

Hebrews 12:1-2
"Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let’s rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking only at Jesus, the [leader] originator and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

"looking only at Jesus"

This particular use of the word "look" is not a glancing look, not to consider, but to stare in awe and wonder. The imagery is vivid; that "great cloud of witnesses" lives testify that the race is winnable by faith. Their stories are this witness to Christ's glory. They witness in awe and wonder about His glory. Not on their performance, not on the obstacles they have overcome, but on the One who has already run the race perfectly.

This is the fuel for endurance, the love that turns duty into delight. The awe we have for the glory of God brings us into submission that doesn't seem like submission at all.

This awe is the bridge. Some would refer to it as "the fear of the Lord". It produces the kind of grateful reverence where obedience becomes joy. In this way the temporary weights, the entangling sins, the shaking things of this world (and there’s plenty shaking in our time) lose their grip.

Hebrews 12:28-29
"Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let’s show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire."

And then comes that sobering, holy reminder:

"Our God is a consuming fire."

This is the same God whose glory made Moses hide his face, whose presence caused Isaiah to cry "Woe is me," and whose fire fell on the altar in the days of Elijah. And His holy fire burns away the dross so that what remains can offer "acceptable service." It keeps us from casual, lukewarm religion. It keeps us from performing for the cloud of witnesses or for people, for clout chasing. It anchors us in reverent, grateful worship that spills over into endurance for the race still set before us.

It burns away every pretense, and all attempts at identifying one's values by building meaningful connections, or exploring the meaning of life by focusing on personal strengths.

But what if you're not any of those things?

What if you're not meaningful?

What if you don't explore or build connections?

What if you’re not good at anything?

What if you were told that you would never amount to anything?

What if that was your experience?

The fact of the matter is, Faith in Christ Jesus burns away every external scaffolding we try to lean on. The connections, the strengths, the "meaningful" contributions, the reputation, the resume. All of it. And when the fire has done its purifying work, many of us find ourselves standing there with nothing left but the naked question...

"What if I was told I would never amount to anything…and it felt true?"

The old identity built on performance, approval, or potential. Gone. Now it's real.

In the place of the submission to the world's standards, God gives something far better than "amounting to something". He gives union with Christ.

You don’t have to be meaningful, connected, talented, or promising. In fact, the Kingdom has a long track record of choosing the very people the world (and sometimes we ourselves) write off. The church of the drop outs, and losers.

Moses - "I can’t speak…send someone else."

David - A shepherd boy overlooked even by his own father.

Paul - "chief of sinners."

And the ultimate example is Jesus Himself - "despised and rejected," numbered among transgressors, appearing to amount to nothing as He hung on the cross.

The fire burns away the lie that your worth was ever based on what you could produce, build, or become. Did not that One who sends the fire, go before in search of that one lost sheep who left the ninety nine?

Did you ever notice that the world truly does despise Jesus?

Just say to them that God is love and that the Son, Jesus Christ, is the perfection of that love. Just say that and watch the comments.

Not at first.

First you'll see praises and that "awe" we were discussing earlier. But soon as you scroll down, the world shows up.

Do you want to know why they hate Jesus, (and by extension you)?

Because He didn’t wait for the sheep to become impressive, connected, or "meaningful." He went out into the wilderness, into the danger, because that sheep mattered to Him. That’s the heart behind the consuming fire; not destruction for its own sake, but relentless love that refuses to leave us in our lostness. And they (the world) hates that free love. Free from fear, free from religion, free from hate.

Say "God is love," and many will nod. Speak of love as self-giving, holy, costly, sacrificial; love that calls sin what it is and still offers full forgiveness through the blood of the cross, and the tone shifts quickly.

This is why Hebrews 12:2 says He endured the cross, despising the shame. He knew exactly how the world would treat Him, and He still went.

The world is just confused, loving the idea of love while rejecting the costly sacrifice of the One. It doesn't love Jesus. This same world that praises vague spirituality will reject the exclusive claims of Christ. The same voices that celebrate "love" will hate the love that actually demands surrender. As the Lord’s children stare in awe and wonder, the world lowers its eyes and gnashes its teeth. Murmuring to themselves, "that love is too free, too powerful, and too threatening to the systems we build to justify ourselves."

They hate it because it levels the playing field. No one gets to earn their way in. The respectable religious person and the obvious sinner both stand in need of the same rescuing grace. The high-achiever and the one told they’d never amount to anything both receive the same unrelenting pursuit.

That kind of love exposes every self-salvation project.

John's gospel recorded it plainly:

"This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil." (John 3:19)

Jesus said: at one time "you belonged to the world".

"but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you."
(John 15:18-19)

For some, it feels like judgment, to those who want to stay in their lostness. But that’s also why the cloud of witnesses surrounds us. They endured the same hatred. And Jesus endured it supremely. So we fix our eyes on Him and keep offering that same free, fierce, holy love. The world will keep showing up in the comments. But so will the lost sheep. The Light has come, and though many prefer darkness, the Shepherd still seeks the lost.

Praise God!
In the name of the Eternal Father, the Eternal Son, and the Eternal Spirit.

Come what may, we endure, we worship, we testify.

May the Lord strengthen you today for whatever leg of the race is before you. Grace and peace to you. Keep looking only at Jesus.