Hebrew 12:1 (NIV)
\”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\”
Apostle Paul in his writing to Hebrew Christians, he considered the journey of life as a race. He paints the picture of a man who is to run good race must get himself free from things that may constitute a great weight to him so that he may run his race without hindrance. For instance a runner who already has his legs chained and with heavy load on him from the starting point can not finish well let alone winning the race.
Instead it is adviseable you first of all unloose yourself out of such limitations if you must run a good race with great accomplishment. The bible says since we are surrounded by great cloud of witnesses let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that has easily entangles us…
My dear friends are there clouds of things that are actually witnessing against our growth in the Work of God in life? Is there lot of event surrounding our environment, our kind of attitudes, or prejudices and idosyncrasy that triggers us to behave in such a way that may be considered as a heavy weight which may hinder our race as a good runner for Christ as such may not attract victory at a finishing point?
Of a truth the author points at the sin that may easily entangle us. The sin we commit as a result of guilt or sin that are committed against us that leads to our hurt both sins may result to heavy weight in us and may cause us to trip off the mark. If we allow guilt to grow in us it may spread like cancer and begin to affect our spiritual life and if we allow hurt to grow unchecked inside us it can fester to unforgiveness, sadness, malice, bitterness and many other kinds of negative attitude. These are the sins we must deal with ourselves if we must run an honest race for Christ.
Apostle Paul said \”I HAVE FINISHED MY RACE\”. This was his second point when he tried to explained to the people how fervent and committed he was in his assigned race in 2Timothy 4:7. \”I have fought a good fight, I have finished my race, I have kept the faith\”. Perhaps we still remembered Saul\’s zealousness as a fighter, fighting to support his religion as he was told from his childhood, watched his religious leaders Pharisees the sanhiendren and the Sadducees protested and did everything to work against the new Religion Jesus Christ brought and also in support of their old time religion. Then the role he played at his later years as the NEW BORN AGAIN PAUL Converted to be one of the greatest Apostles of Jesus Christ in his time, he preached and reassured his listeners about his new found love in Christ and Christianity.
Haven done all to stand, he was able to score himself as having finished his race well because he chose to lay off everything that may hinder him. Not allowing the guilt of the role he played against the Christendom to set him back at the same time not allowing the various events of his maltreatment to hurt him so bad that he was not willing to let go off hurt. He forgave them and pursued vigorously the course of which he was called.
What\’s your story like, is it one of those stories that reminds of your terrible past as such when an opportunity comes for you to turn to God so as to avail yourself the opportunity to be a pencil in His hand you begin to count your mess believing it is unforgivable? No my friend!! \”If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness\” (1John 1:8-9)
Is the hurt in your mind such a great cloud of witnesses that you recount them regularly because of that it\’s causing bitterness, sadness, unforgiveness so much so that it leads to hatred ? \”And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” (Mark 11:25)
Today, in all sincerity are we truly running the race set before us with perseverance without falling into the temptation of being entangled with things that may hinder us? Are we carrying so much weight that it begins to knock us off the track? Please come off it. \”But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike\” ( Matthew 5:44-45).
I pray that God Almighty help us throw off everything that weighs us down without holding back in Jesus name Amen.
✍️Mrs Blessing I N Onugha ❤️