Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us” Hebrews 12:1
Do you know someone who’s extremely gifted, one who has extensive Bible knowledge, and yet, they seem very distracted, continually under temptation and burdened to the point where it’s almost impossible for them to walk by faith – let alone, run their race?
There is something we’re going to have to accept about a life of faith in Christ. We’re going to have to lay aside the weights of this life and get aggressive about resisting sin, and just run our race like someone who cannot be discouraged, distracted, discontented, or dismayed. The race is ours to win, and we’re going to have to prepare for it and train like any other racer and take our place on the starting line every morning and start unloading everything we don’t need in order to streamline ourselves for the prize!
How do we identify these weights we should lay aside? Anything that impedes your faith, steals your joy, interferes with your time and commitments to the Lord, and just wears your down.
· Wasting time: Produces a weight on your conscience.
· Exaggerating, lying, and half-truths: Lies bring bondage. Truth liberates us!
· Offense: Being offended will damage you in many ways. We don’t have time for it. It steals your peace and locks you up under its power. Read Psalm 119:165
· Laziness: The Bible doesn’t have anything good to say about laziness. If you find yourself idle, open the Word and start reading it out loud. You’ll be glad you did!
· Lack of discipline concerning your WORDS: Death and Life are in the power of the tongue and those who love that power will eat the fruit of his words! (Proverbs 18:21) Speak life and you will enjoy the fruits of life.
These are just a few things that we, as believers need to lay aside and streamline ourselves to finish our race with joy! I know we look at these things as if they’re too hard, but you haven’t seen hard yet! Hard is not obtaining the crown. Hard is losing ! Hard is forfeiting your crown. Instead see what you’re really doing – streamlining your efforts, time, energy, and renew your mind with God’s Word. Think like God, talk like God, walk like God, and love like God does… That’s what pleases Him, and pleasing God fuels us with a fulfilment that this world cannot even touch!
With Love,
Pastor Tom
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