Onwards and upwards…

We’ve seen some encouraging signs over recent weeks with good numbers on Sundays and Tuesday and yet more new faces appearing - signs of the growth we’ve been praying and working for! We must give thanks to the Lord – and also keep looking to him for guidance as we journey onwards together. 

I just read again a favourite passage of mine at the beginning of Hebrews 12: “let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.”

Disciples are, by definition, followers. We must constantly look to Jesus as we navigate our way through the challenges of modern life; keeping our eyes on him and not getting distracted by other priorities or competing attractions or questioning voices. We sang at Bible Bite – “O let me see thy footmarks and in them plant my own.”

We can often get weighed down by all kinds of baggage and the various burdens the world places on us. The writer says we must endeavour to cast these aside: “let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles…”

He goes on to urge readers not to get quickly discouraged when things get difficult – Jesus went through far worse as he suffered on the cross - “Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

As we journey through the season of Lent, we must keep the cross in focus but at the same time remember that we serve a Risen Saviour. He now reigns in glory and, according to Paul’s understand, is even praying for us (Rom 8:34). Jesus promises to always be with his followers, and the Spirit of the risen Christ gives us new and abundant life.

So, lets’ keep our heads up as we press on to take hold of the prize he has won for us and “run with perseverance the race marked out for us…” Those who have gone before are cheering us on – and we must do all we can to encourage each other along the way. We are not alone on the path of discipleship.

May these weeks leading up to our Easter celebrations be very fruitful and a period of real spiritual growth and development. In our community of faith at SURC, let’s look out for one another so that no one gets left behind and may we always be looking outwards to draw others in.

With very best wishes from a fellow pilgrim,