Loose the Weight!

"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" (He.12:1).

I stepped on a scale a couple of days ago and was shocked at how much weight I had gained since the last time I weighed myself. As we start a new year, it is always common for people to pledge to loose some pounds in the new year. After putting on some weight over the holiday season, it certainly is not a bad idea to make such a pledge. Although, I am pledging to loose some physical weight from my body, I am more focused on loosing a different kind of weight.

The writer to the Hebrews instructs us to lay aside every weight, and the sin that so easily besets us. What kind of weight is the writer talking about? Anything that keeps you from moving forward with Christ is a weight that needs to be set aside. Anything that slows down your progress in God's Kingdom and anything that interferes with your time with Him is a weight that must be laid down.

Is there anything in your life that is a hindrance in running the Christian race? This isn't just talking about sin, but anything and everything that is a time consumer or something that detracts you from your calling. Those are weights that the writer is urging you to set aside. Are their burdens that you've been carrying that have slowed you down spiritually? It should be laid down also. Put it all on Jesus Christ. Perhaps there are worldly cares, riches, and honors, which are not wrong in themselves, but could become a weight depressing the mind to the earth, and a great hindrance in the work and service of God, and therefore should be laid aside.

Do you spend more time with your television than you do the Word of God? Do you listen to more secular music that Christ-centered music? Are there more ungodly influences in your life than Christian influences? Are there areas in your life that the heart should not be set on? Perhaps there are habits or other strongholds weighing you down spiritually. Perhaps there are some legalistic ideas and practices that have become a weight upon your spiritual walk. Maybe it is bitterness or unforgiveness that is weighing you down. Allow God to reveal to you what those weights are that you need to loose.

In addition to various other kinds of weight, the writer also mentions that sin itself needs to be dealt with also. Lay aside the various kinds of weight that is slowing you down spiritually, in addition to the sin that so easily besets you. If you are serious about your relationship with Christ and the race that He has placed before you, lay aside these things. Seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness and He will provide all that you need. (Mt.6:33)

So, loose some weight this year. In fact, loose all the weight. Loose all the physical, material, natural, spiritual, unspiritual, psychological, and soulish weight that prevents you from being in the intimate relationship with your Maker that He intended. John Wesley said, "Let us throw off whatever weighs us down, or damps the vigour of our soul. And the sin which easily besetteth us - As doth the sin of our constitution, the sin of our education, the sin of our profession".

The New Living Translation says, "let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress" (He.12:1). The New International Version says, "let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles". The Good News Translation says, "let us rid ourselves of everything that gets in the way, and the sin which holds on to us so tightly". The Message Bible says, "It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running - and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins". What is it that is hindering your progress? What is it that slows you down spiritually? Get rid of it. It is in your way.

The Complete Jewish Bible says, "let us, too, put aside every impediment - that is, the sin which easily hampers our forward movement". The New Century Version says, "So let us run the race that is before us and never give us. We should remove from our lives anything that would get in the way and the sin that so easily holds us back". God's Word to the Nations says, "We must get rid of everything that slows us down, especially sin that distracts us". Weymouth New Testament says, "Let us fling aside every encumbrance and the sin that so readily entangles our feet" (He.12:1). Whatever it takes to throw aside those weights, it must be done, it must be a high priority. Our sole desire should be to please Christ and to move forward in Him. So loose the weight this year.