3 KEYS TO VICTORY PART 2 Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls! Hebrews 12:1-3 (MSG) Hebrews 12 The calendar says it’s fall, but a recent cold snap and snow flurries this week catapulted me straight from late summer to winter. In Iowa, winter requires a hat, scarf, coat and gloves. While outside, all the snuggly, warm appeal is great but winter shopping poses a problem. Once inside the store or mall, my coat, hat, scarf and gloves become a hindrance. I get too hot wearing all the winter regalia and I get annoyed having to tote it with me as I try to shop. So, during winter shopping trips it’s not unusual for me to leave everything but my scarf in the car and run to the store entrance. The inconvenience and discomfort of being cold for a few moments is worth not having to juggle a coat while I try to shop. Yesterday Paul encouraged you to forget the past and strain to move forward. Today the author of Hebrews gives the third key to victory; strip off sin. The New Living Translation translates the author’s thoughts this way: let us strip off every weight that slows us down,especially the sin that so easily trips us up. The picture that comes to mind is a runner. Early Greek athletes would strip down, sometimes running naked, so nothing would slow them down, or trip them during the race. Swimmers shave their heads or wear swim caps in an effort to decrease drag and increase speed. Sin is compared to a weight. Imagine carrying a heavy weight all day. Not only are your hands full, but it’s tiring. You would not get out of bed each day, pick up a 25-pound weight and carry it with you all day. Why would you tote around sin? Sin is weighty. Sin is tiring. Sin sucks the joy out of life. Sin distracts you from the race. It diverts your attention from the goal. Put it down, peel it off, set it aside; and then take off running. God has forgiveness and grace waiting for you. It’s a worthwhile exchange. If your hands are full carrying your “junk” you can’t hold the grace God has waiting for you. The final verses of chapter 12 offers great advice; exchange sin for thankfulness and worship. Make Christ and His sacrifice your focus and you’ll find you are less content carrying around your weighty sin. You’ll want to take it off. Father, thank you for your grace. Let that be my focus. Help my hands choose to hold your grace rather than toting around the useless, weighty sin that tries to trip me up.
Posted on: Thu, 31 Oct 2013 18:58:17 +0000
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