One Enemy, One Goal

"Let us lay aside every weight, and ... let us run with patience the race that is set before us" (Hebrews 12:1)

All of us Christians have a common enemy, that old devil, satan. As we stand together, pray together, worship together, we repudiate him and his deceptions. He is our common foe, and he uses a variety of manipulations to hinder us in our spiritual lives.

When by faith we have entered this lifelong spiritual course, the Holy Spirit whispers, "Do you truly want to be among the victors in this discipline?" When we breathe our "Yes! Yes!" He whispers of ways that will aid us and carry us to certain victory.

The Spirit tells us to throw off everything that would hinder us in the race. He tells us to be aware of the little sins and errors that could divert us from the will of God as we run. But here is the important thing: He tells us to keep our eyes on Jesus, because He alone is our pacesetter and victorious example.

The secret of victory is to recognize the Conqueror within and the adversary as a conquered foe. satan has power only when he can make us dread him. He flees before the victorious faith and holy confidence.

~A. W. Tozer~

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One Focus, One Goal

"And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous" (1 John 2:1)

In a very real sense, faith is fixing our eyes on Jesus, keeping Jesus in full view regardless of what others may be doing all around us. This is excellent counsel, because as human beings we know we are not sufficient in ourselves. It is in our nature to look out - to look beyond ourselves for help. This world is big and deadly, and we are too weak and not wise enough to deal with it!

It is also a human trait to look beyond ourselves for assurance. We hope to find somebody worthy of trust. We want someone who has made good, someone who has done what we would like to do.

The Hebrews writer points us to the Perfect One, our eternal High Priest, seated now at the right hand of God. He is Jesus, the Pioneer and Perfecter of our faith. He has endured the Cross and is now the eternal Victor and our Advocate in heaven.

He who fought the battle once, comes still to fight it in our hearts. He who believed for Himself, now believes in us, and sustains in us the spirit of trust and victory.

~A. W. Tozer~