We all have preferences and desires. Some of those preferences and desires create a passion within us to see them happen. We can pursue those preferences and desires but in our still-developing faith, something greater and more spiritually informed is always waiting to be discovered. There are things in this life that we will need to remove so we can move forward in the Lord to experience a greater example of faith. This helps us to not become planted in our limited interpretation and think we have spiritually arrived.

Scripture tells us how to partner with that transformation process: “Let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us!” (Hebrews 12: 1).

We all have sins that can easily trip us up. Some of those sins look and sound spiritual, but they are distractions. They need to be challenged by the Lord because they will eventually stumble our faith, creating spiritual fatigue as we try to keep them alive. Change only happens when we submit those things to the Lord and allow Him to determine their validity.

Running with endurance and not giving up requires something from us. It only happens by “Keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith” (vs. 2). Only when Jesus is our focus, not our desires and preferences, is a deeper faith possible.

The words “initiates” and “perfects” refer to what Jesus does as the champion of our faith. It defines Jesus as the one who takes the lead in our faith, always revealing something deeper and more profound. The Lord’s example of faith is the highest example of faith. We must keep His example in sight as we attempt to navigate the issues of life or we will end up walking into spiritual rabbit holes.

Our refocusing on the Lord’s example of faith is a form of divine discipline. It is used by the Lord to refocus our faith back on what matters most. “My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you. For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child” (vs. 5-6).

Our faith is never perfect. It is always being perfected if we keep our eyes on Jesus. This allows Him to make adjustments to our current understanding to look more and more like His perfect example of faith.