Travel Light

We feel burdened by the things we choose to carry around with us. Physically, mentally, and ultimately spiritually. These things can add up to a heavy load carried like a badge of honor, attempting to show people how strong we are.

I was sharing Christ with a friend who was battling alcohol addiction and financial difficulties. He was a proud man and as I shared the gospel, he looked at me and said, “everybody has a sack of rocks they drag around with them.” I suppose it is so, especially if we believe we can take care of ourselves without God. So, let’s look inside the “sack.” From Harvest.org, Pastor Greg Laurie helps us identify what drags us down:

I don’t know about you, but I always take too much stuff with me when I travel. I have a bag with wheels, and no matter what size it is, I’ll still manage to fill it up. I don’t even need everything I put into it. And then I drag around my bag on wheels.

Some of us are like that in life. We’re just wheeling our burdens around. We take them with us everywhere, but we need to cast those things aside. The Bible tells us to “strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up” (Hebrews 12:1 NLT).

The J. B. Phillips New Testament renders it this way: “Let us strip off everything that hinders us, as well as the sin which dogs our feet.” In other words, we need to cast aside the sin and weight that holds us back. And sometimes what slows one person down won’t necessarily slow another person down. For instance, some people have a metabolism that allows them to eat anything they want and never gain weight. I don’t have that kind of metabolism. I did when I was in my 20s, but I don’t anymore.

So the weight that slows us down can vary from person to person. But sin is sin, and you know what may dull your spiritual appetite. You know what issues can distract you from your faith. You know what relationship will pull you down spiritually. And you certainly know what God doesn’t want you to be involved in.

Maybe today you’re carrying a lot of weight, and I don’t mean physical weight. I’m talking about burdens, hardships, difficulties, and problems you’re dragging around.

Lay aside the things that are holding you back. And keep your eyes on Jesus.

Pray

Father help me surrender my burdens and my life to you. Thank you of loving me.

Take a look

Matthew 11:28-30

—Mike