Nate Staton

I don’t know about you, but I need to be reminded of the enormity of Jesus from time to time. It’s so easy for me to think I have things under control or that I know what I’m doing. But in all reality, without Jesus, I’m nothing.

I’m so thankful that Jesus is authoritatively and divinely larger than I can even imagine. I’m thankful that His power, His vision, His care is far greater than I can wrap my mind around.

This passage tells us that Jesus is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Jesus sits where the prayers go. Jesus sits where the prayers are answered. Jesus sits in this seat, so we can have access to the Father. And while Jesus is sitting, He is more in control than I ever will be in my moving.

I’m so thankful God’s plan for salvation is much larger and perfect than mine. I’m thankful that because of Jesus, my prayers go to the throne room and are hears. I’m thankful that Jesus is seated in a place where I can receive ample grace. Sufficient grace. I’m thankful my Savior sits where He is seated. Because He sits there, I have a seat now in the room.

As Jesus was able to reject the shame attempted to be thrust upon Him, so too does the believer have the authority do to just that. Shame had no authority over Jesus, and it had zero authority over anyone who is a follower of Christ.

Sonship is for the believer, not shame. Jesus gives you a new name and a new life. He does not give you shame and a list of things you’ve done wrong. He’s saved you and forgiven you from and for that.

Walk as a victorious son of the almighty God. Shame is not for you.

Suffering. At some point in life everyone will have to deal with it. Our outlook towards it can determine how we handle it.

The writer of Hebrews says Jesus saw the joy that was set before Him and endured the cross. Joy was Jesus’ outlook and endurance was Jesus fuel for the cross He was to bear. This speaks volumes to the mind of Christ the believer has been given.

We have received the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16). This gives us the ability to see things the way Jesus saw things. This mindset and outlook gives us the perspective to count suffering as joy (James 1).

The race we run towards the other side of eternity requires endurance. This race is not a sprint but a marathon. Build your endurance by changing out outlook. Fix your eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of your faith.

In today’s age of entrepreneurship and ingenuity it is easy to take credit or to feel the weight of sustaining our faith. What I mean by that, is that we indeed need to work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12), but we do in the reality that God started and birthed this life in us, and He will perfect it (Philippians 1:6, John 3:3). There is responsibility on our side of this covenant relationship with our Savior, but we are blessed to be able to lean on the faithfulness of His side of the covenant. He has already finished the work.

Whatever pressure you may be feeling today, take heart, and be filled with joy knowing that Jesus is the One who founded what is in you. He doesn’t fail. Jesus is perfecting what He put in you, you aren’t finished! Keep pressing forward! Live and rest in His finished work.

Looking – Verb; the act of intentionally fixating ones eyes in a direction or towards on an object.

The author of Hebrews says to actively look towards Jesus. Looking to Jesus keeps the believer from looking at the storms of life and the waves of the cultural tides that are ever tossing the lost to and from. When our eyes are fixed on Jesus, we ourselves have found the One who can make all things new.

In a world where it is easy to keep our eyes fixed on facebook, twitter, google, Instagram, Tik Kok, news outlets, etc… We are encouraged to only fix our eyes on Jesus. To continuously look towards Him for His return, for His redemptive plan in the moment, and to look to His Word for wisdom and grace for today.

Look to Jesus. In Him there is truth. There is Light. There is life. There is the way.

Patience. Some day’s I feel fresh out of it. Those are the days that I lean most on myself rather than the supernatural guiding presence and power of God. If I’m honest, the days that I am least patient, I’m least happy and satisfied with my walk with Christ. 

One thing I have learned and still am learning through 15 years of ministry is that if you are going to genuinely love people and be with them for the long haul, you have to be patient with them. Without patience there is no hope for relational sustainability.

God is so patient with us. The Bible says that Love is patient. (1 Cor.13). God Himself is love. Therefore, God is patient and love at the same time. This is the love that is radically transforming our lives day by day through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

This is the patient love that is overflowing from us into one another as God pours Himself out through us. It is God’s patience founded in perfect love. This is the patience and love our neighbor desperately needs from us and us from them.

May we be known for our patience that points to the Savior.

Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
This I declare about the Lord:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
he is my God, and I trust him. – Psalm 91:1-2 NLT

When you sit enthroned under the shadow of Shaddai,
you are hidden in the strength of God Most High. He’s the hope that holds me and the Stronghold to shelter me,
the only God for me, and my great confidence. – Psalm 91:1-2 TPT

Jesus said “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33

For the Christian, God is refuge. He is not just a place, but a person that one can hide in and find safety. He is the shelter from the storm, He is the Christian camouflage, to hide us and protect us from the evil one and his schemes. As image bearers, when rufuge is sought in Christ, hiding in Him in the only place of safety.

There is no hiding from trouble in this world. Jesus tells us that we WILL have MANY TRIALS AND SORROWS in this world. It’s not a matter of if, but, when. That doesn’t mean defeat is imminent for the believer, it simply means that victory is to be sought in all circumstances. As Christians very well know, victory can only be found in Jesus.

The encouragement and hope in that reality is that Jesus declares that peace can be found in Him. Not peace as the world offers, but, a supernatural peace that does not lose it’s saltiness. It’s a peace that sits with you in the storm and reclines with you in the calmness of life. This is a peace that is only found in rufuge. It’s peace and safety that is found only when intentionally walking towards the hiding place.

God gives an open invitation to hide in him. Only He is almighty, powerful, omnipotent, sovereign, strength, and wisdom. Hide in Him today. There is a holy place of hiding awaiting just for you.

What a blessing it is that only when we hide ourselves in Christ, we truly find life and life abundantly in Him. True freedom to live is in that place.