Hebrews 12 verse 1 (NIV). 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 perserverance the race marked out for us.
Recently I had the wonderful treat of flying to Queenstown. On the way through the airport departure lounge, was the obligatory scanning of myself and my bags. Getting my hand bag, lap top and carry on suitcase into the trays to be scanned was stressful. To complicate things, the handle on my suitcase is behaving very badly by ‘remaining in the upright position.’ To add to the fray, my glasses fogged up, I was trying to remain socially distanced and it seemed like everyone was watching me. Was my suitcase too heavy I wondered? Did I need to throw some things out of my bag?
Are you carrying invisible baggage?
Truth be told, the baggage we carry, is the invisible variety.
Emotional wounds, offenses, memories and entangling sin (Hebrews 12 verse 1.) This baggage, if we are honest, does weighs us down. If this baggage remains undetected and unexamined, it will hinder our progress in life, relationships and callings.
Is it time to have a look at your baggage, throw out the things that are weighing you down and re pack your bag? Running with perserverance the race marked out for us, is difficult to do carrying excess baggage.
What does hinder mean?
The word hinder comes from the Greek word egkopto. It has two meanings. One meaning describes a road that is so deteriorated and broken up that it is impassable. It was also used in Greek times in an athletic sense. It was used to portray the moment when a runner comes alongside another runner and literally elbow him out of the way.
Throw off everything that hinders
This verse from Hebrews tells us to throw off EVERYTHING that hinders AND the sin that so easily entangles, AND let us run with perserverance the race marked out for us. So we are in a race. It is marked out for us. We DO need to throw off everything that hinders and sin that easily entangles. To get to where we are going, we need to get rid of some stuff first, then we can run.
Hebrews 12 verse 2 is a reminder of where to put our priorities and focus, once we have done that.
Verse 2. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith.
There are people watching us and how we do this life of faith. I imagine Jesus and a great cloud of witnesses at the finish line, cheering us on and encouraging us, to run with perseverance. We will get there if we throw off everything that hinders before we start to run that race.
Do you want to go for a run?
There’s a scene in the movie (book?) The Mission that beautifully illustrated this idea. But airport luggage resonates perfectly! The mental loads we apply to ourselves, often unnecessarily, can be let go for wonderful results: reaching the end, let alone well and effectively.
So true Tam. I must check out The Mission-havent heard of it. Thankyou 🙂 Kind regards, Lorraine
Good post, thanks. So true. I’ll continue to discard my excess baggage. And beautiful Queenstown! I stayed there with friends during our five-week trip around NZ and fell in love with Queenstown. It even snowed on the Remarkables in mid-summer when we were there. A beautiful place.
Thanks Jeanette for yor kind comments. Yes Queenstown is idyllic. I intend to go back and spend longer there enjoying the beauty.What a treat you saw snow in summer!! Kind regards, Lorraine
Lovely post. Thanks, Lorraine!
Thankyou Susan 🙂