“Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”
Hebrews 12:1b
It was a brisk fall morning when I toed the line with hundreds of other runners at the Grand Rapids Marathon. Because of the cold, everyone was wearing layers of clothing. About two miles into the race with the sun warming us, people began throwing off their outer layers. But I kept mine on until the weight of sweat absorbing into my clothes began to feel uncomfortable. When I finally tossed a layer, I saw how losing that extra weight invigorated me.
I couldn’t help thinking of Hebrews 12:1 which tells us to cast aside every weight and sin. Like my heavy, sweat-laden shirt which impeded free movement, our unconfessed sin and attempts to carry life’s burdens alone hinder forward progress in our journey with God. As I ran that day, I confessed many sins to the Lord—my pride, my self-centeredness, my impatient and unkind words, and so on. Doing so, I felt the weight of my guilt lifted.
The hundreds of shirts strewn along the marathon route that day were a vivid reminder of the glorious freedom enjoyed by all who confess their sins.
I couldn’t help thinking of Hebrews 12:1 which tells us to cast aside every weight and sin. Like my heavy, sweat-laden shirt which impeded free movement, our unconfessed sin and attempts to carry life’s burdens alone hinder forward progress in our journey with God. As I ran that day, I confessed many sins to the Lord—my pride, my self-centeredness, my impatient and unkind words, and so on. Doing so, I felt the weight of my guilt lifted.
The hundreds of shirts strewn along the marathon route that day were a vivid reminder of the glorious freedom enjoyed by all who confess their sins.
Scripture Focus
1 John 1:8-10
Insight
“As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:12)
Bible In A Year
- 2 Chronicles 31-32
- Psalm 23
- Mark 2
