Get That Weight Off You!

Hebrews 12:1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us.

Shoe manufacturers like Nike are coming up with more and more ways to make lighter shoes and clothing. This marketing effort is to draw in those athletes who want the comfort in running without the weight. The idea is the lighter I am the easier the run and the faster I go.

It is true that when you are in a race you want to be light as possible and streamlined. We need to cast off everything that would hinder us or slow us down.
The weight is the guilt and shame that gets heavy on us. When we are disobedient to God the consequences of our shame weigh our conscience and make it hard to run. Over the years we have put on some weight by the things we have participated in or allowed to go on in our lives. Whenever anybody wants to get rid of some weight they have to go into strict training and consciously put off some of the weight they’ve put on. We can’t continue to consume some of the things we’ve been consuming if we are going to get this weight off. Then we also have to exercise regularly so that we can burn up the calories that come as a result of intake. It’s not just the bad stuff we eat but we can be eating good stuff and not exercise causes us to put on weight. For example coming to church periodically but not serving in ministry is like eating one big meal a day and never exercising. Your body stores up fat because you are not eating regularly and there is no exercise to burn the excess fat. In other words faith without works is dead and plus it makes you fat (faithless and Tired).

Sin Clings to us and builds up resistance to the wind. The Wind is the Holy Spirit. We ought to be running with the wind but when sin clings to us it causes us to run against the wind. Sin slows us down because we can’t run as fast as we need to. We can’t go forward as efficient as we need to because we are slowed by what clings to us.

In order to run more effectively we need to lay aside every sin that so easily entangles us. The way that we can do that is because of the great cloud of witnesses that surround us. When you are running a race it’s the people in the stands that cheer you on. Read the list of Witnesses in Hebrews 11. They are the heroes of faith. They finished their race now they are cheering us on. Take off whatever is slowing you down so you can finish strong.

Run with Perseverance. The race is not given to the swift or to the strong but to those who can keep on running. You remember the race between the rabbit and the turtle. The turtle won because he kept putting one foot in front of the other. The rabbit lost because he kept sleeping when he should have been running. He wasn’t consistent. Too many of ya’ll are sleeping in on Sundays when you should be running. Sundays is when you fuel up for the race Monday through Saturday. Don’t let the weight of Saturday night cause you to miss the most important day of your week. Get that weight off you!

Dear God, give me the strength to streamline my life. Help me to take off whatever is slowing me down so I can run like I need to run. Lighten my load so I can finish this race!

In Jesus Name,
Amen.