Lay Aside Every Encumbrance and the Sin
Lay Aside Every Encumbrance and the Sin
After the book of Hebrews tells us about so many heroes of faith, it points out a vital truth for us in Hebrews 12:1-2,
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith…
Everybody has encumbrances and sin that “so easily entangles us.” Every new day has its own set of problems that wants to drag us down and burden us. Hebrews tells us that we’re supposed to “lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us.” But how? How can we lay aside all our burdens? This passage gave us the answer,
Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith…
We need to constantly look to Jesus for the guidance and relief we need. After all, He is the One we believe in and the One we call our Savior. He is “the author and perfecter of faith”. So, why are we still so burdened?
We are burdened because we are always looking at ourselves and our failures. Bluntly, we are not really “fixing our eyes on Jesus”. There is a reason why we are feeling burdened beyond our ability.
It is true that when we come to faith in Jesus, the Holy Spirit works in our hearts and minds to show us the wonders of salvation we have in Christ. But, that is also when Satan tries to destroy our faith. Instead of letting us look to Jesus, Satan will constantly bombard us with all sorts of accusations. He will claim that our sins are way too great to really be forgiven — that we have not repented “enough” — that our faith is so weak we’ll never be able to keep it up — that we’ll never have the kind of joy and faith God’s “real” children have — that we are not worthy of salvation, etc., etc., etc.
All those sorts of accusations can seem true. But, that’s because we’re not seeing the truth of the matter, as given to us in God’s word. All of these accusing thoughts are centered on ourselves — not on Jesus, as they should be. Throughout God’s word we learn that Christ Jesus is our “all in all”. The truth centers on Jesus — not us. Jesus has done all things for us. It’s a done deal.
Therefore, we must remember that it is not the greatness of our faith that saves us — it is Christ Jesus, our Lord who saves us. It is not our strength that saves us — it is Christ Jesus. It is not our joy that saves us — it is Jesus. It is not the agony of our repentance that saves us — it is Jesus, only Jesus.
We cannot look to ourselves for anything. We must keep “fixing our eyes on Jesus”, our “all in all”. It is only through His merits, suffering, death, and victorious resurrection that we can “lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us”.
“Fixing our eyes on Jesus”, we say, “Hallelujah! How great Thou art!”
Love,
Margaret
.
Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus by the Yupiq Eskimo village of Quinhagak, Alaska
.
… Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus …
A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and GOD of gods
Pray for our country
**************
.
.
.
The LORD made this day, let us rejoice and be glad in Him.
Psalm 118:24
.
The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
Psalm 18:30
.
Sing for joy in the LORD, O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming to the upright.
Psalm 33:1
.
How blessed are those who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4
.
Just as a father has compassion on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13
.
O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1
.
Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3
.
**************
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
…………
.
.
.
.
Comments are closed.