DCLM Sincere Milk 14 November 2022 — Shed this weight
DCLM Sincere Milk 14 November 2022 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Shed this weight
TOPIC: SHED THIS WEIGHT!
TEXT: HEBREWS 12:1-4
2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
4Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
Key Verse: “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1).
MESSAGE:
Most athletes who desire to excel in their chosen field often attempt to lose weight. They seek a slim and lighter body that will improve their strength and speed. It takes a lot of discipline and sacrifice to achieve this goal. They control their feeding, sleeping and level of enjoyment to shed unnecessary weight to keep fit. They also engage in regular rigorous exercises. They do all these to win earthly prizes and glory.
Believers are spiritual athletes who are running a race to heavenly glory. Earthly glory will fade away with time but heavenly glory is everlasting. Therefore, as believers, we should be focused and run our race avoiding weights that can pull us back. These weights are sins, dirty habits, worldly games/activities and other worldly attractions. The track to heaven is so narrow that it cannot accommodate unnecessary loads.
As you run your race gallantly like a soldier, set aside anything that will take away your focus from the Lord Jesus Christ. Engage in regular spiritual exercises by daily reading and studying your Bible, be watchful, live a holy life and pray for grace to run the heavenly race to the end.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, please give me the grace to be focused and successfully run my race to the end.
Further Reading: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
