"Lay The Weight Aside"

"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

Not everything that weighs us down is something sinful, but it encumbers us nevertheless and hinders us from running the "race that is set before us.". "Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us." It is so easy to get involved with so much busyness that our focus and attention is given to it instead of pursuing the things of God that tend to eternal life. We live in a world that is always vying for our attention, especially in our Western world-- there is no want for activity and there is no lack of entertainment that pulls us to itself.

Am I saying that activity and entertainment is wrong? Am I saying that we shouldn't be involved in anything? No, and, yes. Not everything that we get involved in is wrong. As the scripture told us- not everything that weighs us down is necessarily sin. But the yes of my answer is this- if it hinders you from not only running the race but staying in the race, then it is wrong. Is it worth losing the race over? Is it more important? Will you give it exchange for your soul? Is it more valuable than your relationship with your Savior Jesus?

If you have ever done any gardening- vegetable or flowers- you know that if you don't pull the weeds up but allow them to grow they will suck all the nutrients from the plants. I used to have a plant in my house that would occasionally make a very pretty bulb type of flower. I was told that the flower was not a flower at all, it was a sucker and I needed to remove it or it would stunt the growth of the plant. I was reluctant at first because it was so pretty, but for the benefit of the plant- if it was going to grow and thrive- I had to do it.

There comes a time when we all have to take inventory of our lives. We have to check and see what is necessary and what really isn't. We have to determine what is just "excess baggage" and what is essential. We have to decide whether it is aiding our spiritual growth or "sucking" the life out of it. Then we have to make the choice to either allow it to remain or "de-clutter" and remove it from our lives. What is weighing you down this morning? What is a hindrance to your walk with the Lord? What is slowing you down in the race? Is it really that important? Is it really worth it?

Have a great day. Just because it may not be "sin" doesn't mean that it still won't weigh you down and hinder you from running the race.

For further reading:
Matthew 16:26; 6:33
Luke 10:38-42; 21:34