“LAY ASIDE EVERY WEIGHT!”

 Hebrews 12:1-2                                              (ESV)

“1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also “LAY ASIDE EVERY WEIGHT”, AND SIN WHICH CLINGS SO CLOSELY, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

2 LOOKING TO JESUS, the FOUNDER (AUTHOR) and PERFECTER (FINISHER) OF OUR FAITH, WHO for the joy that was set before HIM ENDURED THE CROSS, DESPISING THE SHAME, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of GOD.”

Being a “student” of THE WORD indicates that I am still learning HIS intents and purposes of Scripture, especially for me!  The longer I study HIS WORD, the more HE reveals to me, FOR HIS GLORY!  Whenever I hear someone say that they have a good grasp of Scripture, that is an alarm that they might be lacking in THE WORD?  It can be tempting to glory in the revelations HE has given, but the Apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 that a “thorn” was given to him in his flesh to prevent him from “becoming conceited”!  However, the need for more “thorns” isn’t required for this sinner saved by grace.  

Scripture is very clear to those who can SEE, we are to “LAY ASIDE EVERY WEIGHT”, AND SIN WHICH CLINGS SO CLOSELY to us, so we can run the race that HE has set before us.  We can’t run that race if/when we are burdened by tactics that “the enemy” uses to occupy our minds.  Whether social, racial, financial, political, or whatever else that you choose to fill in the blank with, JESUS CHRIST has overcome those things with HIS LIFE, DEATH, and RESURRECTION!  

It is often said, by actions more than words, that JESUS CHRIST cannot help with modern world problems.  But the book of Exodus is filled with GOD softening, the hardening, the heart of Pharaoh to accomplish HIS PLAN!  We have to OPEN OUR EYES to SEE that the same GOD WHO swallowed the Egyptians in the Red Sea is STILL ON THE THRONE and calling the shots.  All we have to do is “LAY ASIDE EVERY WEIGHT” that “the enemy” tries to hang around our necks and let JESUS handle them!

JESUS is the FOUNDER/AUTHOR and PERFECTER/FINISHER of our FAITH, and the ability to improve on PERFECTION just isn’t possible.  All we have to do is place our FAITH in HIM, and that the AUTHOR and PERFECTER has a PLAN that will not fail!  So when Satan, “the enemy”, tries to hang a burden that has been on us, we need to remind ourselves and him that EVERY WEIGHT, AND SIN WHICH CLINGS SO CLOSELY to us has been LAYED ASIDE by JESUS HIMSELF!  When THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSES says to “LAY ASIDE EVERY WEIGHT”, we should LAY THEM ASIDE!!!