Today's Devotion: Hebrews 12:1-2 (New International Version) - 1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

This doesn't mean that everything is going to be easy. For, the chapter goes on to say that we will face adversity and there may be discipline by God involved. After all, as it later states, "God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?"

Today's Comments: Today, how much do we really run that race that the writer talks about, keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus? Sometimes it seems like our eyes are fixed on man's desires, not God's. And our failure is one of the reasons this world is in such a fix. We will continue to have angst and anger among ourselves and toward each other. And God will find it necessary to discipline us even more. Because if he does not discipline us, then he will abandon us, and we will no longer be His children.