Focus and Run

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. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Hebrews 12:1-2 (NLT)

What slows you down? Seriously. Is it a co-worker that just doesn’t work fast enough? Is it a family member that maybe cannot keep up? Or are there things in your life that if you let them go, you’d be able to run?

You know, things like intentional sin. At this point a lot of us check the box and say “Nope, I don’t do that.” But, maybe that’s not true. I don’t think I have intentional sin in my life either but every time I do something that I have felt convicted not to do, that’s intentional sin.

On the outside it can look really innocent. And all of our stuff looks different. What I am being convicted of is very different than what you are being convicted of. And I am going to make a bold statement; each and every one of us is being convicted about something.

Maybe the Holy Spirit is whispering that you spend too much time on social media or watching TV. Maybe he’s whispering about your diet or health. He could be talking about the worry you carry around or the need to be in control. He may be asking you to be kind to others and less critical. The list could go on and on.

God is talking to us all the time. He wants us to strip off, let go, drop the things that are keeping us from a deeper walk with him. At first glance, these things may not seem like such a big deal but he knows our hearts. He knows what trips us up. And he knows that if we would just let it go, we’d be able to run like the wind.

How do we go about doing this? Keep our eyes on Jesus. We can’t change or be changed by looking at the very thing that snares us. We have to look at Jesus. When we focus on him, suddenly our perspective changes and there is a clarity.

So focus. Focus on Jesus and keep your eyes glued to him. When you look back at your life, you’ll see how he changed you from the inside out.

A Different Kind of Freedom

For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17 (NLT)

A couple of weeks ago, I did something that at the time seemed good. However, immediately after I did it, I felt this twinge of doubt. I had decided to do something that involved someone else but I didn't ask them first. I knew the twinge was probably because I wasn't respecting the other person and giving them the honor that was due to them.

On the big scale of things, this doesn't seem so bad. I reasoned that I was going to fix it and no one would ever know and all would be well. But, as days slipped by and it was not rectified, I also reasoned away the prick of my conscious. 

Finally, one day during my worship, I felt the Holy Spirit, with more force than a twinge or a prick, tell me to deal with it. Not only did I need to fix the mistake I made but I had to tell the person I had ignored and apologize.

To be clear, I did not want to do this because well, admitting you are wrong and apologizing, that's hard for this sometimes wayward human heart. But I knew God's voice was not going to get quieter and that if I didn't listen and he stopped talking about it, I would have dishonored my relationship with him. While the other unknowing person in this situation would probably never have known, God always does. I had a choice to make.

My relationship with God is more important to me than my pride so I fixed the situation, went to the person, told them what happened and apologized. They were gracious and forgiving. 

The next thing I felt was relief. I'd been carrying that around for two or so weeks and I could feel it festering in my soul.  Suddenly, it was gone. I was freed from that thing that was invading my walk with man and my walk with God. There are all sorts of freedoms that we can celebrate today but, the ability to live free in your heart is the very best one.

True Freedom

 For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.  For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5:13-14 (NLT)

Yesterday America celebrated her birthday. Most people celebrated with fireworks, picnics, parties and food. It's a great day to remember this country and how/why we came to be. This text made me think......

America was founded in the belief that all men, women and children were created equal (granted we have and still struggle with the equal part). And it was founded to give men the right to religious freedom.  We are blessed to live in a country where freedom is so important and key to who we are. 

It seems God also calls us to that same kind of freedom. Freedom from our sinful natures. Freedom to be better than who we can be, freedom to reach for something bigger than ourselves. Paul says all this can be summed up in one command "Love your neighbor as yourself." Isn't this all the same thing? Freedom to respect and love each other as we would respect and love ourselves. Freedom to serve each other and take care of our fellow man.

God doesn't put caveats on who should be treated this way. We all should be treated this way and we all should offer this to each other. Deep down in my soul I know if we did this, we would be truly free. And the world would be a better place.