Lay it Aside

There are many things in our lives that can weigh us down.  They don't even have to be "bad" things. They can be in context useful tools.  However, if they are keeping you from pursuing God, they need to be gotten rid of.

"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

Sometimes the weight that clings so closely to us isn't even sinful.  It can be a useful tool or benefit us in the right context.  Once that thing starts taking over our life though it becomes a weight that will slow us down from attaining our goal.

What is our goal in life as Christians?  Well, what is the greatest commandment?  In Matthew 22:37, Jesus was asked that question and gave this answer:

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets."

Did you get that?  God is ultimately our goal.  Everything we are ends and begins with him.  If we truly love God, we will also love what he loves, and end up loving our neighbors in the process.

One thing that I have been noticing in my life has been that the farther away I get from worldly things, be they games, movies, music, etc., the closer I get to God.  And the closer I get to God, the easier it is to put away worldly things   We cannot serve two master.  We need to love, honor, and pursue God with every fiber of our being.  But we can only do that once we have laid aside every distraction.  I encourage you to wholeheartedly seek God and lay aside all else.

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."
~Philippians 4:8