The long, gruelling 100km trailwalk through bush, over mountain tracks and creek crossings is about to begin. The participants are lined up, stripped to the bare essentials for what will take 24 – 48 hours to complete. All is ready for the start.
Then another competitor approaches the starting line. He is fully dressed, wearing bulky clothes and a padded jacket with bulging pockets and a fur hat. He is carrying a packed bag and an umbrella.
Surely he wouldn’t try this long, arduous walk like that?
He replies: “Of course! The race is long and treacherous so I am prepared. There is absolutely nothing wrong with anything I have here. Everything I have is good and beneficial to me.”
Yes, the things may be GOOD. They would be beneficial in some circumstances. But are they BENEFICIAL to him in this race? Will they HELP him in the race? In the Olympic races or Trailwalks there is no rule against carrying a supply of food and beverage or creature comforts, but the runner would never win the race that way.
Hebrews 12: 1-2
“Let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us,
and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith”
The Christian life requires us not only to avoid SIN but also to give up some GOOD THINGS which will keep us from BEING OUR BEST, and from GIVING OUR BEST, and from DOING OUR BEST for the glory of God.
“Lay aside every weight”
What weights are we carrying in our Christian race – the race which “is set” before us – the race from the cross to glory? (from conversion to physical death)
We easily recognise some weights -
sinful habits, bad temper, impatience, a critical spirit,
a gossiping tongue, greed, selfishness, resentment, grudges
- the list seems endless -
but what about the “good and beneficial” things which can be hindrances?
How often do we allow “good and beneficial” things
to hinder our walk with Christ?
The Christian life is a race that requires discipline and endurance.
We must strip ourselves of everything that would impede us.
Weights are things that may be harmless in themselves and yet hinder progress;
they could include -
material possessions, family ties, the love of comfort,
the use of leisure time,
devotion to hobbies, sports and other activities.
They could also include Christian service
if done for the wrong reasons and motives -
self promotion, to get praise of others, etc.
We must guard against the notion that the race is an easy sprint, that everything in the Christian life is rosy. We are in a battle. We must be prepared to press on with perseverance through trials and temptations.
The new year presents us with a good opportunity to self examine, to ask the Lord to reveal “weights” which hinder our progress and to set in place goals and actions to ‘keep us on track’
# ANYTHING that comes between me and God – ROBS God.
# Anything that comes between me and God – BECOMES my god.
# He who offers God second place, offers Him NO place.
Everything is either a “wing” or a “weight”
Lord, reveal to me the “weights” in my life:
the things that hinder my walk with You.
Let me burn out for Thee, dear Lord;
Burn and wear out for Thee.
Don’t let me rust or my life be a failure,
Dear God, to Thee.
Take me and all I have, dear Lord,
And get me so close to Thee
That I feel the throb of the deep heart of God
Until I burn out for Thee.
4hispraise
Amanda Beth
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Bro Stef
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Ula
Lyn Leahz
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rickroehm
Rob Barkman
Funny, that is the verse I chose to begin my journey of getting rid of those sins you mentioned. Ok, Mrs. Angela, I have been working really hard the last year on my impatience, temper, and boots fetish. I have to admit, I am doing VERY good, praise the Lord with the exception of the boots.
Thanks, Hugs, and Much Love, for this post.- Shelia
It is a great verse, as most challenging ones are. Thankfully, we do not have to face the challenge on our own (and in fact it would be useless if we did) but we have all the resources of heaven at our disposal and when we take hold of them in faith and apply them, we are empowered and enabled to be ‘more than conquerors’ in Christ.
What an incredibly amazing God!
(Boots fetish? You mean you love boots – and have many of them?)
Yes ma’am. I love boots and have quite a few odd colored ones. I love color. I’m an old country gal at heart. Yes God is incredibly amazing. I just love Him so much. He is why and how I get through anything. I am really glad He has guided me more and more to overcoming anger issues, and made me realize I have no control over others and their bad behaviors.- Many Hugs and Blessings galore to you!
Shelia
Angela,
You have stirred me once again in one of your heartfelt and edifying Blogs. Would you permit me to share the following?
Have you ever examined the verse Hebrews 12: 1-2 closely? “Let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us, Note how the writer mentions “the sin” ?
The sin in this text is not the act of sin but the very… “nature or propensity” of sin. This sin relates to what man is by nature. It is a sin that must be “layed aside”…”put off”…or “crucified”.
Salvation removes the acts of sin.
Sanctification by the Holy Spirit removes the propensity of sin. The Bible in Romans 6:6 uses the word “destroy” as God’s method of removing this “body of sin”. Harsh words based on the authority of God.
Only a little tid bit to my dear sister in Australia. God Bless!
Thanks Rick for your ‘tid bit’.
All commentators I have read place the meaning of “the sin” as the sin of unbelief, which certainly does so easily ensnare us, but I think it could just as easily refer to the nature of sin, which is crucified with Christ.
We are one day closer to the time when we shall be saved from the very presence of sin. Keep looking up!
PS We are a long way from the bushfires, but there are real tragedies. Over 100 homes have been completely demolished and many more burned beyond repair. Thousands are evacuated. There are dozens of fires still burning and over 100 people are ‘missing’ as in not checked in. Some could have been killed in the fires. Temperatures are still in the 40sC (100-120F). Prayer is appreciated.
Very wise words… we are to be thankful for the wonderful blessings the Lord gives to us on earth, but be ready to gvie up any of them to further the cause of Christ. I have to remind myself that putting anything ahead of the Lord in my life is making it an idol, and therefore sinful. Even the innocent things that I might enjoy can be turned to sin if I do not surrender them to the Lord.
Another blessed posting, Angela. Thank you it was a blessing.
Colossians 1:18 “In ALL things Christ should have the preeminence” comes to mind. He is not satisfied with having prominence. He IS preeminent and needs to be so in our lives . . . something I need to bear in mind constantly. It is ALL about Him!
You are so right. Sometimes we forget that good things in the wrong place or time or for wrong reasons are weights rather than wings and we need to decipher those instances, for firm winning action. Praying The Lord will help each of us here.
When we do not know what to do
We have to speak oft with The Lord.
Early in my Christian life, it was easy to identify the ‘weights’ and there were many. I had to ‘unlearn’ so much! Nowadays I find it is often ‘small’ things that God points the finger at – but what a difference it makes when those small weights are surrendered to Him! We should always be open to His voice of conviction and ready to obey. After all, we have nothing to lose. He gives of His abundance.
What an incredibly amazing God!