. . .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 . . . (Hebrews 12:2-3)
Focusing on the first part of verse one of Hebrews 12 we read that we have a huge throng of "witnesses" in which to fall back upon for strength and encouragement in our walk with Christ. That's encouraging! However, having a strong support system is not always enough . . . we must make some hard decisions in life in order to
really follow after Jesus as he demands of us.
In order to "throw off " things that are keeping us a distance from Christ, we must "act". We may have to sever a friendship or at least back away a bit. We may have to stop certain activities; websites, social media, after-school or after-work gatherings, etc.
The verses above give us a very concise three-step plan. Sounds like a sermon, huh?
1. Throw off the sin . . . run from it . . . flee temptation and sin!
2. Run the race God has set out for us . . . stay in our line not someone else's lane . . . be yourself and be satisfied with that!
3. Stay focused on Jesus. We are to please Him and no one else. He is our focal point in life.
This is a hard lesson to accept for youth and adults alike. We like to be around friends and have "
BFF's" and "
FOLLOWERS". We all like to be "
LIKED" and to be popular. However, the bottom line is are we on good terms with God and shaky ground with others, or vice-verse?
Joshua 24:15 keeps ringing in my ears daily . . ."But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
How 'bout you?
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