Hebrews 12:1-2
Jesus was the original pioneer. Jesus, the Word of God become flesh, pioneered creation, pioneered human life, overcoming sin and every attack, pioneered death and resurrection life, and pioneered the building of the Church. When we believe in Jesus, he changes our hearts through salvation, changing our eternity, our lives, our families and generations. Jesus, the pioneer of our salvation and faith, begins his pioneering work first in our hearts.
God plants beautiful things in our hearts – secrets, dreams, hopes, longings – and God’s plans for us are much greater than our plans could ever be. God never underperforms, but sometimes our hearts get in the way. The issues of our heart limit our lives. As Jesus is completing his work in and through us, we must be mindful to guard our hearts from things that obstruct his work - such as jealousy, envy, competitiveness, comparison, hurt, bitterness, and unforgiveness. When Jesus, the great surgeon of our heart has his way in us, he reveals the beauty and purpose of God in our lives.
hat Jesus starts in our heart he finishes in our life – his salvation starts in our hearts and affects every part of our lives. Everything begins and ends with Jesus – he is the author, captain, leader, pioneer, perfecter, accomplisher and completer or our faith. We must make room in our hearts for him, allow him to expand our hearts, look after what he puts in our heart that he is trying to pioneer, and believe the seed he plants in our heart will bear incredible fruit in our lives.
Let us allow God to begin and finish what he wants to do in our hearts and through our lives, refusing to give the devil ground, opportunity or footholds in our hearts, and holding tightly to the will and purposes of God in our lives. May we always look to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.
BIBLE AND BELIEF
Use these questions and scriptures to help believers develop a biblical worldview.
Read: Colossians 3:1-17
Q: What does it mean to “set our hearts on things above” (v1)? What reasons does Paul give for why we should do this? (v1-4)?
Q: What things does this passage tell us to “put to death” (v5) and “rid ourselves” (v8)? Why should we?
Q: How do we do actually do this?
Q: This passage talks about our “old self” (v9) and our “new self” (v10). What do you think Paul is talking about?
Q: What does our “new self” look like (v10-11)?
Q: There are new virtues we are instructed to clothe ourselves with (v12-14). What are these virtues?
Q: How do we “clothe ourselves” (v12) with these virtues? How do we “put them on” (v14)?
Q: How is this not just works and striving?
Q: How do we “let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts” (v15)? (Hint: Perhaps the rest of the passage has some clues).
