Daily Devotional
How Are You Running?

“…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 12:2b


Ponder This

Jesus is our example. He is a champion who, at the end of His race, received a crown of joy. When an athlete runs, he runs to win a trophy. In our verse today, what is “the joy set before Him”? It’s winning the race. He “endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

The crown gave Him the ability to endure. If you keep the crown in mind, you can bear the cross. But you cannot have the crown if you despise the cross. We are crucified with the Lord Jesus Christ.

I have a few trophies I won back in high school on a championship football team: a gold football, a letterman’s sweater and a silver cup. Do you know what happened to all those trophies? Someone broke into the house and got the gold football. The moths had a camp meeting in the sweater, and it’s gone—no more letters on the letter sweater. What happened to the silver cup? I haven’t the foggiest.

Practice This

Athletes run “to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown” (1 Corinthians 9:25). There is a prize for you to possess. Follow your Lord and walk as Jesus walked.

FOR YOUR GIFT TO THE MINISTRY

Front Porch Moments by Gayle Foster

WITH KEY INSIGHTS FROM HER FATHER, ADRIAN ROGERS

I try to unplug each morning with Jesus with just my rocking chair, my Bible, and a pen.

Having a secret place is very important because I know that Jesus is always there waiting for me. I know where I can find Him! His presence is everywhere, but there are places where it is so thick you can cut it with a knife. You may not even have a front porch, but there is a secret place for you as well. God’s invitations are for anyone who will respond. There is no more important request than the one found in Psalm 27:8: “My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’”