Taking out the garbage

Read Hebrews 12:1-3

1 Therefore,since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely,and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us,2 looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith,who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross,disregarding its shame,and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners,so that you may not grow weary or lose heart. (NRSV)

A story was told of a man who used to pray regularly that the cobwebs be removed from his life. One of his prayer group colleagues had enough of this after a time and in exasperation prayed that his friend instead get rid of the spider!

When it comes to moving on in the Christian life,it is not enough to deal with symptoms. We must get to the causes. A bit of superficial moral housekeeping is not sufficient to get us on track and keep us there. As this text reminds us,we are to get rid of whatever weighs us down. Not seeking to deal with deep issues is like trying to run through deep mud. If we do move,it is slowly and with great difficulty.

So it is good to keep short accounts with God,not letting the many words and thoughts and actions that displease him cause a cloud to come between him and us. Accumulated and unconfessed sin is like thick mud clinging to us,hindering progress.

The evil one delights in attacking us. He can be likened to a rat scurrying and burrowing amidst the junk in our life. The best way of getting rid of such a rat is to get rid of the garbage.

Blessings
David Reay