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 (King James Version)
We've been studying in Hebrews 12:1 for a few days now. So far, we have discovered that we must lay aside things that weigh us down, and we must also lay aside the sin that tangles us up. If we are going to run the race of life at our best, we must not be hindered in any way.
The end of Hebrews 12:1 says, "and let us run with patience the race that is set before us." Only after we lay aside the things which weight us down, only after we lay aside the sin that tangles us up, are we going to be able to run the race that is before us. We are not going to run at our best if the cares of this life are weighing us down, or if we are still all tangled up in sin. In order to run at our best, we must be freed up from sin and from the things that weigh us down. But, there is a specific way we must run this race: with patience. Looking at the way other translations of the Bible write this verse, we must run the race with determination, with endurance. The writer of Hebrews 12:1 is using a marathon runner illustration here. Someone who runs a marathon trains for months, or even years, to compete. They will not get half way through the race and then give up. We, as Christians, must not give up in the race we are in. We must run with patience, with determination, with endurance to the finish line.
Are you running with endurance? Or, have you already given up? Think About It.
Showing posts with label race. Show all posts
Showing posts with label race. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Monday, April 29, 2013
What's Weighing Your Down?
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,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
-Hebrews 12:1-2 (King James Version)
Hebrews 12:1-2 are among my favorite verses in the Bible. The writer tells us the key to living the life God has called each of us to live. We are going to spend the next three days breaking down these verses.
Verse 1 says, "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." The writer tells us to do two things in this verse, and both of which is necessary if we want the life that God expects. First, "let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us." If you and I want to live the life God has called us to, then we must lay aside, take off, get rid of, everything that will weigh us down and cause us to stumble. We'll see later in this verse that the writer is using a racing illustration. A runner will wear the lightest shoes possible. They will wear the lightest clothing possible. Many even shave off their hair, so that they will not be held back by anything that will affect their time. That is what we must do. We must get rid of anything that is going to slow us down in living the life God has called us to.
What, in your life, is slowing down your walk with Jesus? What weight are you dragging along? Confess it to Jesus, and lay aside whatever is weighing you down. Think About It.
Friday, December 14, 2012
The Glue Trap of Sin
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 (King James Version)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, 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 (New Living Translation)
While at work the other day, I was driving my forklift outside to get some supplies. As I was opening the garage door, I noticed a bird that was caught in the middle of a glue trap. It was flapping its wings trying to escape the trap. I noticed, along with the bird, there was about a dozen insects in there as well. My guess is that the bird was trying to make a meal on those bugs, and became stuck. The first thing I though of was sin-it works the same way.
We may see something we want, something that we know is a sin. It could be a lie that's told to keep from getting a speeding ticket. It could be the sexual attraction of a married coworker. There are other examples I could use, but what may seem innocent enough (take the bugs in the glue trap), so we go for it. Like the bird who tried to take a free meal from the glue trap, we get stuck.
The writer of Hebrews 12:1 said, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, 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." Sin easily trips us up. Sin slows down our walk with Jesus. We must get rid of sin from our lives. How can we do that? Look to the lives of the men and women that's written about in Hebrews 11, the hall of faith. See how they overcame the same obstacles that you and I face each day. They finished the race, and we can learn from their example.
What sin is tripping you up today? Are you stuck in the glue trap of sin? Think About It.
-Hebrews 12:1 (King James Version)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, 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 (New Living Translation)
While at work the other day, I was driving my forklift outside to get some supplies. As I was opening the garage door, I noticed a bird that was caught in the middle of a glue trap. It was flapping its wings trying to escape the trap. I noticed, along with the bird, there was about a dozen insects in there as well. My guess is that the bird was trying to make a meal on those bugs, and became stuck. The first thing I though of was sin-it works the same way.
We may see something we want, something that we know is a sin. It could be a lie that's told to keep from getting a speeding ticket. It could be the sexual attraction of a married coworker. There are other examples I could use, but what may seem innocent enough (take the bugs in the glue trap), so we go for it. Like the bird who tried to take a free meal from the glue trap, we get stuck.
The writer of Hebrews 12:1 said, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, 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." Sin easily trips us up. Sin slows down our walk with Jesus. We must get rid of sin from our lives. How can we do that? Look to the lives of the men and women that's written about in Hebrews 11, the hall of faith. See how they overcame the same obstacles that you and I face each day. They finished the race, and we can learn from their example.
What sin is tripping you up today? Are you stuck in the glue trap of sin? Think About It.
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Joy In Trials
2 Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials,(A) 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.
-James 1:2-4 (HCSB)
Yesterday, we looked at how our faith is more precious than even pure gold. We looked at how our faith is tried by fire. Today, we are going to look at endurance. If we are going to have a strong faith in God, we must have strong endurance.
A marathon runner must prepare, and be ready to run a marathon race. They have trained their bodies, and they have the endurance to make it to the end. A properly trained marathon runner will not give up and quit before the finish line. Neither should a Christian. To grow our faith strong, we must have endurance. We gain endurance through trials.
James writes in verse 2, "Consider it great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials," We should be joyful when our faith gets tried. Really? Yes. Here is why. Verse 3 says, "knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance." The endurance you need to continue living the Christian life is found through the testing of your faith. When you learn to trust and lean on God in today's trial, it will make it easier to trust and lean on God in tomorrow's trial. See where I'm going. That is endurance, and if you want to live the successful Christian life, you must have endurance to continue-in spite of the trials you're going through. Verse 4 says, "But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing." Endurance must complete it's work, so that we may be complete. A metal that is not completely refined will never live up to what it was created for. The same is true for the Christian that has no endurance.
How do you respond when trials come your way? With joy? With worry? Think About It.
-James 1:2-4 (HCSB)
Yesterday, we looked at how our faith is more precious than even pure gold. We looked at how our faith is tried by fire. Today, we are going to look at endurance. If we are going to have a strong faith in God, we must have strong endurance.
A marathon runner must prepare, and be ready to run a marathon race. They have trained their bodies, and they have the endurance to make it to the end. A properly trained marathon runner will not give up and quit before the finish line. Neither should a Christian. To grow our faith strong, we must have endurance. We gain endurance through trials.
James writes in verse 2, "Consider it great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials," We should be joyful when our faith gets tried. Really? Yes. Here is why. Verse 3 says, "knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance." The endurance you need to continue living the Christian life is found through the testing of your faith. When you learn to trust and lean on God in today's trial, it will make it easier to trust and lean on God in tomorrow's trial. See where I'm going. That is endurance, and if you want to live the successful Christian life, you must have endurance to continue-in spite of the trials you're going through. Verse 4 says, "But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing." Endurance must complete it's work, so that we may be complete. A metal that is not completely refined will never live up to what it was created for. The same is true for the Christian that has no endurance.
How do you respond when trials come your way? With joy? With worry? Think About It.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)