At the end of verse 1 in Hebrews 12, we find this challenge:
“and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.” To run this spiritual race requires physical, mental and spiritual strength. We know that if we are to run our best race for the Lord, we must remove all restraints. The previous part of our scripture says it like this, “let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that doth so easily beset us.”
There are so many things in life that put a drag on our run for God. The writer in these first few verses of this chapter instructs us in how to run a successful race. He names two hindrances, weights and sin. He says to “lay aside every weight.” This means anything that has us so full of care and so burdened that we are unfruitful in our Christian life.
Jesus said, “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” He is saying to everyone who is loaded down with burdens and the cares of this life to lay them on him. Whatever you care about, he cares about. He alone can bring rest and peace in the midst of great struggle. In Matthew 13, Jesus speaks about the care of this world “…choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.” It sure is hard to bear fruit or run a good race when we have so many burdens and cares to keep us down. Then 1 Peter 5:7 gives us this exhortation, “Casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you.”
Our text says “lay aside every weight, and the sin that doth so easily beset us.” We all have besetting sins that seem to keep showing up and tempting us. It sets us back and keeps us on a guilt trip every time we give in. It may not be a deep, gross sin, but it is something we do that we know does not please God and we shouldn’t be doing it. All sin is sin, and it needs to be put away and confessed as sin. We have a loving Saviour who wants us to run a good race and fight a good fight, and we are given this wonderful promise in 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sin, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sin, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” He is more willing to forgive than we are to repent.
“ Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.”