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, 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. Hebrews 12:1, 2, NKJV.
Dear Lord we give You so much thanks for all that You do for us. For the reminders You send us, and the care You take of us when we cannot help ourselves. Please show us how to keep our eyes on You until we make it into the kingdom. In the name of Your dear Son and our Savior Jesus we pray. Amen.
Today as I was taking my morning stroll I suddenly felt encumbered. I felt as if I was carrying a load. I wondered what could be causing the feeling. Then I realized that because the morning was so cold, I had put on an extra amount of clothing. I had four layers of clothing on my upper body (including a “London Fog“), two layers on my lower body, and some long woolen socks! I was walking around with a lot of weight on my body.
Immediately our Scripture for today popped into my mind, and I suddenly understood it in a light hitherto unknown. It suddenly dawned on me why some of us are always so tired, physically, as well as emotionally. We are walking around with “stuff” that is weighing us down. We carry layers and layers of guilt and remorse about situations over which we have or had no control. Perhaps some of the issues that we are dealing with happened long before we were even born, or at the very earliest, when we were too young to defend ourselves. Yet they have filtered down from generation to generation, and many people find themselves victims of guilt and remorse. That is one group.
The other group is made up of people who have made themselves responsible for other people’s bad choices. Parents (especially mothers abound in this group). We did the best we could as earthly parents. Made many sacrifices to give our children the best we could provide. Yet when they decide to do things their way, and the results are less than favorable we blame ourselves. No wonder so many are ill with auto immune diseases generated by stress and other debilitating factors (sometimes hereditary).
Then there is group number three that I believe fit the context of our Scripture for today. To this group the entire human family form a part; those carrying around the weight of sin. Before I felt encumbered, I felt comfortable. I felt warm on a cold day. But as I walked long enough and my body began to build up its own heat, the extra clothing, was no longer a comfort, it became cumbersome. It became a besetment. I began to lose speed going uphill. Yet to take off the biggest layer (my London Fog), could have left me open to take a draft.
Isn’t that the way sin works in our lives? That comfortable sin which eventually besets us? It is warm and cozy at first, but when we begin to grow in Jesus and He begins to provide what we really need, we realize that these sins are an hindrance to our spiritual edification. So what do you do with the besetment? We will talk about this tomorrow.