FROM THE KEYBOARD

When we lose sight of the Eternal King, it's easy to care less about eternal crowns. But keeping our eyes on Jesus keeps our hearts set on what truly matters and infuses us with endurance to keep running our race with grace. "Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith..." (Hebrews 12:2).

God’s rules enable us to be godly in our roles. And His commandments are not restrictions but releases; like tracks in a race or rails for a train, they provide stability and security. When do trains wreck? When they leave the tracks. When do runners get disqualified? When they step out of bounds. Thus, God’s rules are not roadblocks but roadmaps to righteousness—not burdens, but blessings. "I will run the course of Your commandments, for You shall enlarge my heart" (Psalm 119:32).

Heaven’s rewards aren’t given to observers but to overcomers. You see, crowns aren’t handed out at the starting line—they’re reserved for those who endure to the finish line. So keep looking unto Jesus because there is no other way to stay locked into Jesus. "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness..." (2 Timothy 4:7-8).

Even when the battle rages and the enemy seems to have the upper hand, God is never absent because the outcome is in His hands. You see, what looks like defeat is often the setup for deliverance. And the cross of Jesus Christ is the greatest example of this! "But You, O Lord, do not be far from Me; O My Strength, hasten to help Me!" (Psalm 22:19)

Truth will always confront sin, but we must deliver it with grace; because the goal is not to win arguments but to win souls. You see, boldness without love can harden hearts, but truth spoken in grace can break chains. "Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one" (Colossians 4:6).

Jesus came to bring life—and life on top of life. But abundant life isn’t about ease of life; it’s about eternal life. It’s not about always getting what we want, but trusting that God gives us what we need. So whether we get what we want or don’t want what we get, we can rest in knowing God's got it. "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).