S.Y.A.T.P. 2017. Fix Your Eyes

Some of you may not known what SYATP stands for....See You At the Pole is an international student driven movement, which takes place the 4th Wednesday in September.  Students gather around their school flag pole to pray.  When my children were in school they were sometimes the student to initiate it.  Last year we attended in support of those students doing it.
So I wanted to share a few thoughts as I looked at the theme verse for this years SYATP event...which is Hebrews 12:2.
I am going to look at the verse before and the verse after as well.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneerand perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:1-3

The theme video talks about how so connected we are today...when many are so very isolated at the same time. We have the world at our finger tips, but some many are lost.  That a war rages for our attention!
Isn't that so very true!  We have cell phones, and satellite phones (when we want service no matter where we are).  We have computers and tablets and smart TVs.  We can buy and sell to any one anywhere in the world and even see them when we talk to them!  We can have news (or what passes for news) 24/7.

let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. 

We need to be sure we are not wrapped up in or totally trapped by all the things of this world, the things that can distract us from what is truly important. And not just distract, but draw us into sin.

And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.
We MUST make sure our focus is on Jesus, so that we can stay focused and move forward on the path Christ has for us, because we know what HE has for us is perfect!

For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Christ suffered what He did for US...for the joy that not only He would receive, but that we who believe will receive as well.  We are to remember what Christ endured on our behalf so that when things get tough, and they will, we won't get discouraged!

SO today, remove all distractions at some point and focus on Christ, the One who endured the shame, the pain, the cross....for YOU!  GIVE Him your undivided attention sometime today!
And then go run the race!!