This past Sabbath I preached a message from Hebrews 12:1-3 called Reference Point. Reference points are powerful because we look to them to interpret the reality around us. Too often, we choose our reference points poorly. We look to what we should have done or could have had. We compare ourselves with the others who are smarter, prettier, and wealthier. But Christians have a reference point that rest of the world doesn’t have… Christ! When we look to others we don’t look to criticize or compare but to see Christ and show Christ! When we look at ourselves, we don’t look at who we are but who we are in Christ! We fix our eyes on who Christ is and what He has done. And there’s a promise… we will not grow weary and loose heart!
Here’s what I forgot to say….
Our world is populated with people who are drifting, unsure of their own identity. God is inviting each of us to run with intentionality in the identity we have in Him. We are searching for our own identity and when we find it we realize we don’t like it. It is entangled in sin. But God has declared a new identity. He has a different “race that is set before us”(v1). He is calling the drifter to become a runner.
Happiness experts will tell you that a secret to happiness is contentment. But it is not enough to know that the secret is to be content. We need to know how to being content.Consider the famous contentment verse in Philippians 4:11-13. Notice the secret, the one that tells us how to be content.
I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
I can be content because of the truth that “I can do all things through him who strengthens me”. The secret is to fix your eyes on the supernatural ability of Christ in our lives. If Christ is not able then I have no reason to be content in this suffering world. But He is!
Are you willing to look to Christ? Will you stop allowing your bad reference points to define your reality?