Morning Devotional 050726 For the Sake of Joy

Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room

May 7, 2026

Hebrews 12:!-2

¹ So then, with endurance, let’s also run the race that is laid out in front of us, since we have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us. Let’s throw off any extra baggage, get rid of the sin that trips us up, ² and fix our eyes on Jesus, faith’s pioneer and perfecter. He endured the cross, ignoring the shame, for the sake of the joy that was laid out in front of him, and sat down at the right side of God’s throne. 

Good Morning! Jesus endured the cross for the sake of joy.

The days can be long, and the journey is often hard; nevertheless, we are called to affix our eyes on Jesus. What does this mean for us, the ordinary people whom God calls to carry the cross and move the world toward perfection? 

First, we must remember that only by God’s grace is such a thing possible. Next, we are not running a sprint, so we must pace ourselves to avoid burning out before we reach the finish line. Finally, we must understand that the road won’t be easy, so we must discard anything that weighs us down and persevere. 

God promises to be with us and provide for our needs as we traverse the uneven terrain that causes us consternation. If we keep our eyes on Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to mold us into the beings God intended, then we can endure the long, weary road to glory. 

God of Wisdom, you bless us abundantly! By your grace, we are strong enough to pick up the cross of Jesus and lead others to you. Thank you. We love you. In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.

Thought for the day: Our present-day struggles pale in comparison to God’s glory.

Head toward the joy of the resurrection!  Pastor Liz