Welcome!
Passage: Heb 12 (NIV 84)
Today: Dealing with our sin!
12 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, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb 12, NKJV)-emphasis added
Sins that easily “entangle” or ensnare us will affect our race of life
When a person has his/her feet “entangled” in sin, it will be like a person who had their feet into tar or something, and cannot run the race. This is a race we need to run. We run either towards heaven or hell; no one is standing still!
A person running to hell will have all the baggage of worries and sin upon them, while the one running to heaven will be free! (may just have a Bible with them!)
While the Christian on the track struggles with the “push and pull” between a holy living and the temptation of sin, help is available. The word of God, prayer, counsel of others, preaching and teaching at church, all help us to find victory in the struggle between the “sinner and the saint” in us
21 I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 22 I love God’s law with all my heart. 23 But there is another power[e] within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. (Rom 7, NLT)-emphasis added
Thank God for the word of God; thank God, that He just had people like you and me write it, so that we can see what they struggled with; there is practical help!
24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin. (Rom 7, NLT)-emphasis added
Paul struggled against sin so much; he did not yield to it. A “struggle” is a life & death fight; in the end, one of the two wins. Paul succeeded by not yielding to sin!
Today, many churches and leaders make it “easy”, by not telling people the truth; but in the end, they will make it miserable for them. It is better to tell the whole truth of God’s word in the beginning and to save them from hell!
We can always see two types of people; those who grow towards the maturity in Christ, and those who go in the opposite direction:
10 Then he told me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, because the time is near. 11 Let him who does wrong continue to do wrong; let him who is vile continue to be vile; let him who does right continue to do right; and let him who is holy continue to be holy.” (Rev 22, NIV 84)-emphasis added
We need to be wise enough to commit our lives to Christ, and to live our lives by what God and His word says; if a student is really keen on getting the best scores, he/she needs to do things wise, more than depend on what somebody says; the church/leadership may not tell us everything we need to do; it is up to us!
If a student needs “extra help” for his/her studies, they need to get it; in the same way, we may need to help ourselves with some “extra help” from the word; few hours in church on a Sunday alone is not enough!
Make life “light” by getting rid of our luggage/baggages, so that we can run!
Have a blessed day!
BG
Father God, thank you for talking to me. I struggle in many areas in life, and I need your help. Restore me, and renew me; I need a revival in my personal life, family and church, as the coming of Christ is at hand. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
God’s helpline is open 24/7; got time?