God's Been Good Monday

I was wondering what I would post about this morning, and as I was thinking about it, these verses came to mind:

Hebrews 12:1-2 (King James Version)
1Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2Looking 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 is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

I have heard preachers say that the great cloud of witnesses were people in Heaven watching us from above, but I started thinking...we are compassed about a great cloud of witnesses from day to day. From in our homes with our families, to our churches, to our towns, some one is going to be a witness of how you live your Christian life...unless of course, you are a recluse... ;D

But anyway, back to the point!

"...let us lay aside every weight..." What is dragging you down in your walk with Christ? Is is lack of joy? Is it discouragement? Satan will try with all his might to drag us down, keep us from being our best for the Lord. He will use sometimes our fellow Christians and even our family. Maybe that is the weight that you carry. It could be a burden that you have carried for so long. The Bible says "Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved." Psalms 55:22

"...and the sin which doth easily beset us..." What is your little pet sin? The one sin that you most easily cater to when it comes knocking? Is it a wicked thought life? Is it unbelief? Is it worry? It could be most anything. It may be a private sin, something that no one knows about, but it will eventually affect the outward walk of a Christian. It will affect your fellowship with other believers, your attitude with your parents. For older Christians, it will affect your attitude toward your husband if you are a lady, your relationship with your wife if you are a man, and your attitude toward your pastor. One little sin can lead to so much more...my parents have always taught us girls that what you do will have an affect not just on you, but also on everyone around you. Boy, is that true!

"...and let us run with patience the race that is set before us..." Now, how do I do all this? Not only do I have to lay aside every weight, and sin, but I also have to run the race with patience! How can we do this as Christians? The answer is in the next verse...aren't you glad that God is so wonderful that He gives us answers when we need them?

2Looking 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 is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Looking unto Jesus...constantly keeping in view the Lord Jesus...if we constantly keep in view Jesus, all those things that hindered us before will seem as nothing...look what He did for me, look at what He is doing for me...those things should be the motivation to help us run the race...He gave His all so then I will give my all in the race! God has been so good!