Throw it Off

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” (Hebrews 12:1-2)

What is stopping you? What is preventing you from being all that God created you to be?

God tells us to throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. When I look at this passage, I think of a great running back who sets his eyes on the end zone and throws off any opponent who attempts to tackle him. He sprints, he cuts; he spins; he drags players behind him. He runs with determination and perseverance and is not satisfied until he crosses the goal line.

This is how we should view our spiritual journey, fixing our eyes on Jesus and not letting the problems of the world drag us down.

Life is full of obstacles that will attempt to tackle us and stop us short of victory. Is something trying to prevent you from finishing the race?

While we must deal with the problems in our lives, we cannot let them overpower us spiritually.

Throw off sickness

Throw off job loss.

Throw off temptation.

Throw off marital problems.

Throw off family issues.

Throw off ?  You fill in the blank.

We must know through prayer, the Lord will run the race with us and will comfort us and keep us strong in the midst of trial as long as we remain connected to him.

Remember when Jesus strolled on the water and Peter wanted to join him in some wave walking? Peter did great until he took his eyes off Jesus and began to look at the sea below. That’s when he began to sink.

Are you sinking? Have the problems become bigger than Christ?

I can remember a stretch not too long ago where, because of a family issue, I felt like I was drowning. I was defeated and did not throw off that which was trying to take me down. The issue was out of my control but I did not keep my eyes on Jesus and trust him with my circumstances. He was the only one who could handle it but I found that out the hard way.

When I finally gave it over, that’s when I was able to see the goal again. I persevered and threw off the issue, living above while Jesus did his work below.

The Lord knows life is hard. We can choose to give up or we can run the race with the running shoes our faith equips us with.

We have to choose to persevere. We have to swat away anything that tries to take us down. A great cloud of witnesses are rooting for us to make it into the end zone and when we do, we might hear cheers from heaven and the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”