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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, Looking unto
Jesus the author and finisher of our faith Hb12:1b-2a Imagine running a race with heavy clothing, boots, and and what you were going to make for dinner on your mind. It would be obvious to all that you would not win the race. Yet Christians do this all the time. They run the race with fear or worry, or resentment and bitterness rather than focusing on the race that is before them. Thinking that being preoccupied with people's problems make them good Christians, they are ill equipped to run the race. A well abled runner has shorts and a tee shirt and light sneakers whose only thought is to cross the finish line first. St. Peter says in his first letter to cast every care on Him (the Lord) because the devil is a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. Unless we let go of fear and worry, bitterness and resentment, the devil has an advantage over us which he can use to bring sickness or poverty or even death to the overburdened Christian. Being a worrier doesn't make you a good Christian any more than having a baseball, bat and glove make you a good baseball player. The average Christian, however, would consider it highly noble of you to be so concerned about others. Yet from the gospel perspective it is quite the opposite. If this is the case what should our attitude be to those in need? In Romans eight, St. Paul states that those that are led by the Spirit of God are the Sons of God (v14). It is essential to be led by the Spirit. The disposition of a person running a race is to come in first (1Cor9:24) and our goal is to obtain an incorruptible crown and to bring our bodies into subjection (v25,27). In order to know the will of God and to move in the Spirit we must be free of every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us. Rather than trying to prove how good we are and how sensitive we are to the plight of others, God wants us to be free and pliable in his hands. Then and only then will we be an instrument of the Spirit for whom the Lord wills for our life. If we have not dealt with the sin issue and if we choose to carry the weight of the world on our shoulders, no matter how noble it may appear to us, we will not win the race and the devil can cause real havoc in our lives which he probably is doing already. The grace of being led of the Spirit is the knowledge that we are no longer responsible for ourselves or others. In Galatians five St. Paul says to stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free and be not again entangled in the yoke of bondage (v1). When we are spiritually free, it is then that we are useful to God. Get born again, get spirit filled, let go of every weight and sin, and be led of the Spirit. If you get there, when the devil attacks, he can not succeed and you will live in freedom, peace, joy, and love and you will win the race! amen |