Today’s verse continues the theme of “Simplify.” What we’ve given you in the accompanying image is just one slice of a larger thought. Here is Hebrews 12:1-2 in whole:
“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, 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.”
We’ve got a question for all you runners out there; (maybe you’re more of a 5k person or a marathoner). Here’s the question: What do you carry with you when you run? Hopefully the answer is nothing. Or, if you do carry something, it’s probably small and nearly weightless. You don’t want anything to drag you down, especially if you’re covering some serious distance.
The same should be true for the inner life of a Christian. Many of us carry around invisible backpacks filled with invisible things that serve no purpose other than to make our race harder.
Think of the invisible backpack as your mind. What are those invisible things, then? Hebrews uses “sin” as a catchall term to describe the things that beset (trouble, threaten) us. What are some of the thoughts that burden your mind? What threatens to derail you? What troubles your spirit? Here’s another side of the coin: What do you wish you could erase from your mind?
Today’s verse tells us to lay aside those weights. There are plenty of physical, tangible weights that we’d probably do well to lay aside, but God is always more concerned about our inner well-being than our outer well-being. So, what are the invisible weights that you need to drop from your mind and heart?
It’s true that God asks us to shoulder a load in order to strengthen us and refine us, but today we’re talking about additional, unnecessary loads that serve no good purpose.
“My son, do you carry a thing that’s called sin?
And is your load heavy, has Satan come in?
Well, Christ took your load back when He walked the hill.
He took it then, son, and He takes it still.”
“Lay Down the Weight, Son,” copyright 1980 by Arlene Lea Buffington
This article has undergone ministry review and approval.
Looking to Jesus
12 What about us, then? We have such a great cloud of witnesses all around us! What we must do is this: we must put aside each heavy weight, and the sin which gets in the way so easily. We must run the race that lies in front of us, and we must run it patiently.
Such a wonderful verse..Patience is very necessary for one to stay alive in Jesus Christ for he is the way and hope .
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Caring for inner well-being is much more important, because when you are holistic and calm you can achieve all the goals that you set for yourself.