Travelling Light!

Hebrews 12:1-3 (New International Version, ©2010)

1 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,

2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

During the course of the evening you can often see members of the local running club, diligently meeting up to pound the streets together. Their commitment always impresses me. They are easily spotted, they stand out so well from the crowd. Dressed in their running gear, they don't wear the bulky clothes that the rest of us wear at this time of year; the extra fabric would simply slow them down.

Hebrews 12 speaks of the Christian life being like a race - and it's a marathon! So, like the runners, we too need to strip away everything that slows us down. For some of us it will mean ditching the spiritual baggage that we have been carrying around! For some it may be just a small suitcase, others a huge trunk...

I don't do running, not any more. I do like to walk, so I know a little about dressing appropriately when I set off into the country. And then there's the baggage issue... when I travel up to London to work I usually take a rucksack, carefully packing everything I think I might need for the day. I also need to remember to review what I'm carrying and take out things that I've collected when I get home. Newspapers, books, leaflets. If I don't review the contents regularly I end up carrying around loads of unnecessary weight for days on end!

One piece of baggage that a Christian may carry is "the sin that so easily entangles." This phrase speaks specifically about something that you're carrying around that could end up tripping you up. It may have started as a minor inconvenience, it's now something that threatens to stop you in your tracks. It's up to you and God to identify what that may be. Examples could include bitterness or greed. Not dealing with it will reduce your stamina, sap your motivation, as you seek to run despite your burden.

And then there is "everything that hinders"... Things that may not even be morally wrong, but which 'get in the way'. These could be classed as items of baggage that need to be ditched, simply because they're not part of your running kit. They just don’t fit with the life you are now living, the race you are running.

Again, the exact nature of this piece of baggage is down to you to identify. It might be another commitment, something you have done for a while, but stops you being more committed to your Christian calling. It might be a worldly attraction that simply gets in the way. Examples may include hobbies or sports; video games; satellite TV. These things may be lawful, but when their pull on your time is too strong for you to resist, it’s time to put them down (1 Corinthians 6:12).

So, let's not "grow weary or lose heart"... Perhaps the reason that you have felt that living for Christ is just too difficult... is because you’ve just been carrying too much! Do yourself a favour and ditch the baggage. Ask God to help you free yourself from it. Cooperate with Him if there are further steps yet to be taken. Remember to get encouragement and prayer support from your fellow Christians.

And keep running!