People pack for journeys, but come to places where the things they carry
are not worth their weight: The Oregon Trail was littered with
possessions of desperate pioneers. Ship
crews toss valuable cargo overboard in storms to lighten their loads. And Antarctic explorer, Ernest Shackleton,
told his men to purge themselves of personal possessions, as every ounce
would weigh against their survival. He then ripped Psalm 23 from his Bible,
placed his Bible in the snow, and walked away.
In Hebrews we’re encouraged to lighten our load in the same way:
“… Let us throw off
everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us
run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on
Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” (Hebrews 12:1b-2a
NIV)
God is telling us to cast off spiritual clutter, things that hinder and
entangle us, and make room for him
and his will. Yet we’ve grown accustom to our loads – things that are, at best,
distractions and, at worst, secret stowaways sucking the life from us. Sometimes
we’re simply ignorant of these hindrances, sometimes we’re reluctant to part
ways with our comfortable traveling companions, and sometimes we're unable to
free ourselves of weights that have deep, barbed hooks buried deep in our
souls. Whatever the case may be, if we humble ourselves before God, pray
and seek him, he will enable us to "throw off" these loads. And let's not forget that he's given us the
gift of each other. Let's come alongside
one another -- let's love, pray for and encourage each other on this spiritual
trek. By the grace of God working
through us, let's lighten each other's loads.
Father, you are a God of love and mercy
and grace. Will you give us eyes to see what hinders and entangles us? Let
our way be littered with things that have no value compared to the beauty of your
love and grace. Help us to love each other and minister your grace to
each other. In the name of Jesus, the
pioneer and perfecter of our faith, we pray. Amen.
- Carol Ganzevoort
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