My Race is NOT Your Race

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. (Hebrews 21:1)

Yesterday while we were leaving church service, one of my children who shall go un-named  (with as much distaste as she could muster) said, "Mommy, I saw a kid eat candy the WHOLE service." Praise God who prompted me by His Holy Spirit to say, 

"You can't get one cavity from all the candy he ate."

Let us extrapolate Hebrews 21:1 for uno momento!

"Surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses"

That is so powerful! Praise God we are never alone! (Deuteronomy 31:6)

"life of faith"

LIFE! John 10:10 

"strip off"

Colossians 3:5-17 

Yep, that covers that!

"The race that GOD has set BEFORE US"

We run our race. We don't run anyone else's race. 

We cannot get even one "cavity" from candy that someone else "eats".  (John 15:1-17)

Every weight is EVERY weight. Every weight is not just the weight we feel like stripping off or is easy to strip off. "Every" defined is being each individual or part of a group without exception. (Mucho mahalos Merriam-Webster.com)

Weight is ANYTHING that holds us back or trips us up. In other words, what takes our eyes off Jesus? Does anything prevent us from operating in Matthew 6:33?

I understand there are some issues that arise that must be addressed. We biblically address them by:

• Praying (Matthew 6:33)
• Being spirit led not flesh led (Galatians 5:16-18)
• Addressing it in love (John 13:34-35)
• Trusting in the Lord (Proverbs 3:5, 6)
• Stripping it off (Hebrews 21:1)

 

To some, Gracie was rightfully bothered about the child eating candy in service yesterday. The plastic wrappers were a distraction to everyone who allowed it to distract them. Not to mention his refusal to share with his friends, his oral care, and blood sugar levels. But thank God the child was in church service, candy and all. Rather or not, we are in the "right", a trip up is a trip up and God's Word tells us to strip. it. off.

We must remain diligent in insuring no one's "candy" (behavior) keeps us from seeking God's kingdom first and operating outside love.

Father, I pray for every reader right now, in the name of Jesus we declare our eyes are fixed on You! We view others through a filter of love, Your unfailing love! We continually do a heart check and insure we immediately strip off every weight that tries to trip us up and we run our race with endurance! Thank You for teaching us and guiding us! But most of all, thank You for loving us! We glorify You and adore You!