Greetings and welcome back to my blog!
By the way, have you laced up since we last met? I hope you have and that you’ve enjoyed the euphoria of the run!
One of the things I’m experiencing this summer as I run is the heaviness of the heat that we are presently enjoying. I say “enjoying” because I love the heat. Summer is most definitely my favourite season.
However when it comes to the heat, you have to dress accordingly. And as a Christian that means dressing down, but within the bounds of decency. But then again, for a believer that’s a given and a scriptural command!
The author of Hebrews teaches us that when running, there are things we need to set aside.
“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”
At the time in which the text of Hebrews was written, runners who were competing in the games, ran with as little clothing on as possible. And they did so, because any weight they had on would slow them down and might cause them to lose the race.
The author of Hebrews is reminding us that we also need to “lay aside” every “weight and the sin” which so easily ensnares us.
Back in the days when men wore robes, they would pull the back of their robe forward between their legs and tie it up into their belt, so they would not be hindered or tripped up by it when they had to run.
In the same way, we as Christians need to look at our lives and ask ourselves-what are the unnecessary weights that we are carrying around in our lives that we need to drop, in order to be most effective in our walk.
More important still, what is “the sin” that is ensnaring us, that we need to confess and forsake in order to be successful in our service for the Lord?
It only takes one rotten apple in a barrel to spoil the entire contents. And it only takes one sin in the life of a Christian, to stop him from being effective in his service to Christ. Repentance and forsaking sin is the only solution.
So drop that extra weight and get into your shorts and tank top and start running! And enjoy the heat, ‘cause it won’t last!