Jesus said it like this; According to your faith, be it unto you. (Mt. 9:29) One night, while waiting to hear from God on a particular prayer, God said it to me like this; “I can only take you far as you are willing to go.”
He went on to say, “You will have to give up a few things.” Then He quoted a scripture to me.
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. (Hebrews 12:1)
Therefore then, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us. (Amp)
The portion He highlighted to me was, “Let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us…”
No, I am not in sin – however, the Bible says in Romans 14:23 says, “for whatever is not from faith is sin.” Therefore, if I am not fully in faith – to God, that is sin.
I did a little word study on this scripture to find it is saying, “In the areas where there is not complete reliance on God, where you are not fully persuaded or convinced of what God has said, in this area, you are missing the mark, you have veered off the path God has for you.”
God can only take us as far as we are willing to go. If we veer off the path God has us on, we can’t move forward. If we can’t move forward, we are missing what God has for us. We are settling for less than His best.
How, then, do we make certain we remain on the path that God has for us? By laying aside every weight, every unnecessary encumbrance, that is slowing us down.
What weights are slowing us down today? Could it be a relationship that God isn’t pleased with? Could it be what you are feeding on daily, news media, social media, movies that you wouldn’t watch if God were with you? Perhaps it is even anger, unforgiveness, or fear, what is weighing you down?
Whatever it is, you must cast it off, if not, it will absolutely weigh you down and keep you from obtaining the prize.
Another key point in this scripture is found in the word, endurance. The King James Version says ‘patience.’ However, after researching this word in the Strong’s Concordance, I found it to mean, steadfastness, consistency, and perseverance. It also means to continue to profess your faith. We can’t seem to get away from the profession of our faith lately, can we?
The Bible is not saying we sit around patiently waiting on God to do something. No! Instead, we are to continue to declare His Word consistently, and with complete perseverance. If we do that, we not only finish the race, but win the prize!
My friend, God can only take us as far as we are willing to go. How far are you willing to go today? What are you willing to cast aside every weight to obtain Gods best in your life? That is a question for us all, and one only we can answer. May our answer take us into the promises of God, into the very center of the best He has for us.
