Lay Aside Weights

I was listening to a Calvary Chapel Radio app and heard pastor Brian Broderson speaking.  As he recited a verse with which I was familiar, the LORD illuminated it in a fresh way.  Hebrews 12 begins, "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, 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, 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 has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

This verse illustrates the purpose and intentionality of the Christian walk.  It is not simply a life of sin avoidance, but of running the race set before each one of us just as Jesus did.  He endured, and since the Holy Spirit has regenerated and filled Christ's followers, we can persevere to the end.  If we skim through the passage, we might think the writer of Hebrews is referring to sin as weights.  But that is not what is being said.  A distinction is being made between weights and sin.  Sin is the greatest burden all bear from birth, and we are free from it only through Jesus who bore it for us on the cross.  We should lay aside and forsake all sin.  There are, however, things in our lives that are not sin but are weights - weights that hinder us in running our race.  No one who cares about their time or placement in a gold-medal match would load themselves with weights.

Life can weigh upon both mind and body.  God intends that we run unencumbered for His glory as we lay aside sin which ensnares or any weight that drags down.  The Holy Spirit and the scriptures allow us to discern what is sin, what is necessary, what is permitted, and what is simply a weight that holds us back from a strong finish.  Once those weights are thrown aside, we will be stronger still to do what God has called us to do.  Our desire and ability to run only comes from God, and as we rely upon Christ - following His lead - we will not be led astray.  Let's not wait until the ship is sinking to throw aside what does not promote our spiritual well-being.  We must be vigilant to lay aside sin and weights we tend to accumulate!