A Story Unfolding - Encouragement Café - Apr. 14, 2014

Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith (Heb. 12:1-2). It's difficult to be a character in the grand narrative when you'd much prefer to be the author. But there is a perfect Author who sees the story from beginning to end.


A Story Unfolding

Café Menu for Monday, April 14, 2014

Today’s Special is: Trusting Jesus With the Pages of Your Life

Carefully prepared just for you by your friend, Teske Drake

Main Ingredient:

…let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV

Entrée:

Life is full of some wonderful and some not so wonderful surprises. There are mountain-top highs and deep in-the-valley lows. As you look back upon the pages of your life, I imagine you can identify many highlights and some sections you’d prefer to edit right out of the script. You may be on a page in life today, where you’d like to skip over a few sections to the final outcome, praying it lines up with the desires of your heart. If you’re anything like me, it’s difficult to be a character in the grand narrative and you’d much prefer to be the author.

The truth is, there is a perfect Author who sees the story from beginning to end. In fact, we don’t have to fear what’s to come, because Jesus has already gone before us in all things when He willingly gave His life on the cross. Rather than worrying about how the story ends, we are told to lay these things aside and run after Jesus. You may not know where you are headed or have an inkling as to how the story will unfold in your life, but you can rest assured that if you are chasing hard after Jesus – the Author and Perfecter of your faith – that there will be a happily ever after.

It may not come in the way that you hope during this earthly life, but Scripture tells us repeatedly that we can be sure of what’s to come if we know Christ as our Savior…

·We can know that we have eternal life. (1 John 5:13).

·We can trust that Jesus overcame. (John 16:33).

·The Holy Spirit has sealed the heart of every believer for an inheritance to come. (Ephesians 1:13-14).

·Today is nothing compared to glory to come. (Romans 8:18).

It may not be easy, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth it. Trust Jesus with all your heart, soul, and the pages of your life. As the story unfolds – even when you don’t know what the future may hold – you can trust that He has gone before you and holds the future. After all, He is holding you and He is holding all things together.

“He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” Colossians 1:17

Take Out:

Look up the verses referenced above and reflect on the assurance that God gives through His word about your eternal future.

Dessert:

Dear Lord, You are the Perfect Author of our lives. Help me to see You for who You really are. Give me faith to believe and trust in You with the pages of my life, even when I am tempted to pick up the pen and write my own story. I long to trust in You and live with eternity at the forefront of my mind, rather than the worries of my day. Amen.

© 2014 by Teske Drake. All rights reserved.

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Christianity / Devotionals / Encouragement Café / A Story Unfolding - Encouragement Café - Apr. 14, 2014