Words of wisdom: Therefore then, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance and that sin which so readily clings to entangle us and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us.
Romans 12:1.
Life point: Child of God throw off excess baggage!
Above scripture tells us that if we are going to run our race, we must lay aside every weight and run the race with patience. I have heard this point summarized this way: Running our race with no hindrances means stripping for the contest.
In the days when this verse was written, the writer was drawing a parallel that was much better understood than it is today. In those days, runners conditioned their bodies for a race just as athletes do today.
But at the time of the race, they stripped off their clothing, wearing only loincloth, so that when they ran there was nothing to hinder them. They also oiled their bodies with fine oils.
In the same way, we need to be well-oiled or anointed with the Holy Spirit if we want to win our race. We need to remove anything from our lives that hinders us as we run the race set before us.
There are many different hindrances to running a race well and developing our full potential. Too many commitments are one that keeps us from developing our potential.
Letting other people control us keeps us from developing our potential. Not knowing how to say no keeps us from developing our potential.
Getting overly involved in someone else’s goals and vision or becoming entangled in someone else’s problems instead of keeping our eyes on our own goals will also keep us from fulfilling our potential.
I find that the devil comes up with a thousand ways every day to entangle us and get us into something that will prevent us from doing what we are supposed to be doing. They all seem like emergencies, and it seems we must be the ones to handle them all.
If we want to do what God called us to do, we must stay focused because the world we live in is filled with distractions and entanglements.
Let me encourage you child of God to keep your focus on the Lord and be diligent to lay aside everything that might distract you or hold you back.
Prayer: Holy Spirit help me and renew my faith and inner strength to finish my Christian race strong in Jesus name!
