Mission Briefing
Keep Your Eyes on Jesus!
When you are running a race, one of the worst things you can do is take your eyes off the finish line and start looking all around you. The author of Hebrews gives us the most important focus tip ever: keep your eyes on Jesus. He started our faith, and He is the One who will see it through to the finish. This mission explores Hebrews 12:2.
What Does Hebrews 12:2 Mean?
Jesus is called the “founder” of our faith – He is the one who made it possible for us to have faith in the first place. He is also the “perfecter” – which means He will complete what He started in us. Even when He faced the cross, He kept His eyes on the joy ahead: the joy of bringing us back to God. If Jesus endured the hardest thing imaginable because of the joy of knowing we would be saved, we can endure hard things too by looking to Him.
Hero Challenge
Is there something hard in your life right now that you want to give up on? This week, every time you feel like quitting, say out loud: “I am looking to Jesus.” Let Him be your focus point. Write down one thing about Jesus that gives you strength to keep going, and put it somewhere visible.
Did You Know?
Hebrews 12 comes right after what many people call the “Hall of Faith” in chapter 11 – a long list of heroes like Abraham, Moses, and Rahab who trusted God against all odds. After listing all those incredible people, the author says the greatest example of all is still Jesus. He is the ultimate hero of faith that all the others pointed toward.
Ages 4-6: Little Hero Question
Who does this verse say we should look to when things get hard?
Ages 7-9: Growing Hero Question
Jesus endured the cross because of the joy that was ahead. What do you think that “joy” was – what was He looking forward to?
Ages 10-13: Champion Question
What does it practically look like to “look to Jesus” when you are going through something difficult at school, at home, or with friends?
♥ Mission Prayer
Jesus, You are the one who started my faith and You are the one who will bring it to completion. Help me to keep my eyes on You — especially when things get hard — and to find strength in the joy You set before me too. Amen.
