“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28 ESV)
Have you ever felt there were things you were carrying that made you feel weighed down? I am not talking about physical weights, I am referring to the emotional baggage and sins that we have became accustomed to carrying. If we are honest, we all need to lay aside something. How would it feel to take the pressure off and create a space for what is actually important?
This is actually wasn’t the message that I was planning to even write about! It’s funny how life works that way. I know for a fact that I have spent way too much time carrying things that I should have laid down a long time ago! The Bible is clear that sin is a killer. It takes joy out of our lives and creates a realm of regret, fear, and shame. Sin keeps us from God’s best. The hard part to accept is that sometimes it’s not only our sins that have caused us heavy burdens. Unfortunately we are living in the choices and actions of others. Things like poverty, family dysfunction, and generation curses are often passed down to us.
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
John 10:10 ESV
The encouragement that I have for you today is that no matter what weights we have been carrying whether of our own or not; it can be laid down. It will take work though. It’s an active choice to not hold on to it any longer. How do we lay down what we have always known? Can I really be free? These are the same things I have often asked too. It can seem like an uphill battle. To constantly learn and unlearn, take up and lay down. That’s the exact reason why we need God! He has to literally empower us to do the work.
When I became a Christian, I foolishly thought that it would be a lot easier. I thought once I professed faith that somehow all of my issues would be taken away with a flick of God’s mighty wrist! Unfortunately that in fact is far from the reality. God asks us to willingly participate in our healing and growing process.
What does the Bible say about this stuff? How do I get free? I want to be free. Well the first step is to COME! We accept God’s invitation to follow him and take what he offers. He offers us freedom from our sin debt. However, we are to walk in faith and to work with him.
“For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.”
James 2:26 ESV
Faith alone just isn’t enough to be who we are called to be. I believe that I can be set free, but it is up to me to walk in freedom. It’s up to us to make choices that align with freedom from those burdens. If I struggle with alcoholism, then I shouldn’t hang out with people that drink, or go to bars! We think well that’s simple, but how often do we go right into the trap. We assume that we can resist temptation and then end up back where we started? In my own life before I got married, I was practicing celibacy and I had made great progress. Then one fateful day I made the wrong choice! I chose to hang out with a friend who didn’t share my same convictions and I ended up in a situation.
Can we blame others for our failures? Of course not but we have to stay aligned with our mission! I felt a prompting of the Holy Spirit before I ever went to her house that day! I chose to go willingly and she had her boyfriend there and his friend. I didn’t feast on the word of God, pray, or think before I made the choice. I walked blindly into the temptation and by the end of the night I had made a terrible mistake. It changed my route immediately. I found myself like a rabbit cornered by a predator! I accept my accountability. I knew that I had been celibate for almost a year and it was very hard! I realize now why it was so hard, I always tried to do things on my own.
We have to have people in our life that are going the same path. Community is important and there are so times that we walk alone but it’s not forever. We don’t get on a diet and fill the fridge with junk food! That is backwards and it makes it harder. Are there things in your life that need to be moved out of reach? What is your goal? What is the thing you want to get free from? Freedom is possible, but it means we have to be proactive.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV
The life of a child of God is compared to a race, and it’s not given to the fastest runner! It’s given to the one that endures and is diligent. Sin is considered slavery because its consequences take so much away from us. That sexual sin cost me way more than I received that day, I see now! I brought shame to myself, I got my feelings hurt, and I also hurt others in the process! Please consider your choices friends! God forgives and will always take us back, but we come back even more weighted down each time we fall. Sin multiplies and so do the consequences!
“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”
Galatians 5:1 ESV
Sin is only temporary pleasure, but it always has lasting effects! The best thing you can do is find people that will help you be accountable and walk with you. Jesus had his 12 and although they were imperfect, he mirrored the need for like minded friendships. We need to stay close to God and stay in his word. If we make our efforts he will continue to help us. The flesh nature cannot be subject to God so we learn to deny our fleshly nature. We realize that it’s never satisfied. Choose the righteous path as best you can. You will stumble but that’s where God will help you!
“So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.”
Romans 8:12 ESV
I pray that my words gave you some food for thought. It’s worth it to keep laying down what is causing us and others harm. We participate in making the world a better place. We trust God to give us the help, and guidance we need. His grace is sufficient for us. I hope that you will fight the good fight and run your race!
Happy Reading & God Bless!
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