“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. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin” (Hebrews 12:1-4).

If we are looking unto Jesus while we run the race that is set before us, then we will not have our eyes on all of the distractions that are around us. While we are running, we are to lay aside every weight and every sin. This is a lifetime race; we will give it all we’ve got and endure the race. We must build our lives in God’s Word to endure the race for the distance. When we approach the end of our course our faith and our purpose will give us the reserve to complete our race with a strong finish.

One thing we must do is to seek Jesus every day, and run to win every day the race that is set before us. The scriptures testify that weights will become attached to us, so determine that you will keep yourself free and do not let anything interfere with your progress. Unless you deal with the little clutters of sin that fills your life just like clutter in your car, your life will become so cluttered that you will become distracted and burdened down; and those little distractions will prevent you from keeping your focus on the finish line.

Hebrews 12:1 tells us to lay aside every weight. How do we do that? How do you lay something aside? A weight cannot attach itself.  We must be the one putting it on or taking it off; it has no life or movement of its own.  Unless it is moved by an outside force, the weight will remain attached to you.

I heard it put this way once that if I removed my coat and laid it aside, unless moved by someone else, that coat would stay where it was placed until I took it back up and put it back on. It has no ability to get back on me by itself. I must take it back upon myself.

Sin, like that coat, without your help cannot remain in your life unless we allow it to do so, and it cannot get back on you unless you reach for it, receive it, or entertain it. If you lay that sin aside and refuse to receive it back, then it cannot abide in you any longer.

God doesn’t want us to be victims of sin. He wants us to deal with it, get rid of it, and lay it aside. Daily communion with God should be the aim of every believer. The result will be growing in holiness and becoming closer to fulfilling His purpose for your life.

Christ died for our sin so that whosoever would believe can receive forgiveness of sin and receive everlasting life. Believe God and believe God’s word as truth in your life. Today take time to examine your life and clean out the clutter.  Remember Christ not only died for our sins but was raised again from the dead, and we receive that same victory over death, over hell, and over the grave that we too can be raised again from the dead; and as He was seated at the right hand of our Heavenly Father, we also will be with Him. God is and God will always be.

The scripture says that if we continue in His word then we are His disciples indeed. In the scripture it is recorded that Christ said, by this shall all men know that you are my disciples--if you have love one to another, and another verse says that if you forgive others your Heavenly Father will also forgive you.

This is our time of year to celebrate the anniversary of the Lord’s death, burial, and resurrection. Take time to ponder the scriptures, forgive others and ask forgiveness, show love for one another that your life will be a testament for our Savior. Run your race to win.

“Father, I come before you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I thank you for your word; I thank you for the blood of Christ that covers my life and the forgiveness of my sins. I have faith in your word, and I believe the Holy Spirit lives in and abides with me and helps me to remember to walk each day in forgiveness and that I will not take offense against others. I pray for your forgiveness, Father, that your love will ever increasingly grow within me. I pray that I will be mindful of your Word and live my life to show myself as your disciple and that the Love I have for others will be a testimony unto you. Thank you, Father, for allowing me to share your Word with others; I pray you will bless it that it will feed the multitudes. I thank you, Father, and pray for all those that are able to read these words.  I pray they will be touched, blessed, and filled with light that they will have the understanding and the strength to live as your disciple everyday of their lives. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.”

Happy Easter!

~~Freddy