By Jannie Linney
Most times early in the year, each of us look at what we might do to try and make the next year better than the last one. This is the first Month of a “New Year” — gladly moving out of the past year, I am looking forward to what this New Year could bring to us. I have really great expectation. Looking to Jesus, for encouragement in His perspective, things are always better “In Him.” Let’s see what He says everyday!
“Where fore 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 Looking 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.” [Heb. 12:1-2]. {Let’s break this down}. They had just discussed the “Hall of Faith.” This shows us that flesh and blood men can do great things. This faith passage encourages us that we can do wonderful things too.
So Great a Cloud of, A legal witness, is to take to record, or take note of, what they say because they saw it happen. Here we see that there is a Great Cloud of witnesses around us.
As the Lord tells us to “Lay aside, that is to put aside, cast away, every weight; stop and think, — what weight, burden, problem, hurt, bruise, pain, debt, habit, sin, addiction, memory, everything that is a weight on you.” Now Look, these things can so easily “beset you” causing sadness, depression and much more if we dwell on them. Jesus is always trying to help us, in fact, everything He did and does is for our good. This is why He tells us to lay them aside.
He said “My yoke is easy, my burdens are light.” He wants us to give Him our ugly sad burdens and take up what He paid for as He went to the cross and what He paid for on the cross. Because He paid the price for everything we need; we can be yoked with Him and He will help us as we go through this life of trials and burdensome things. We don’t have to bare anything alone any more.
He said “let us run with patience the race that is set before us;” Each of us has a mission, a path, a race to fulfill here on earth. None of us can fulfill the plan God has for us without Him. The only way is to be patient as we run, Looking unto Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith; Oh! Thank you Jesus! “Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross.” It was not joyful as He was on the way to and on the cross, but that was His weight, burden, problem, hurt, bruise, pain, debt, habit, sin, addiction, memory, everything that was a weight, Is the mission, the path, the race Jesus fulfill here on earth to pay the price for me and you! That was the Joy set before Him, winning the horrible race He ran for us! In Him we have victory, if we will just receive it by faith!
Would starting off fresh in this “New Year” be something you would like to do? Maybe renewing your relationship with Jesus or even inviting Him into your heart for the first time?
What better way to begin, Let’s just say “Jesus, I want to lay aside all the weights that so easily besets me, Forgive me of all my sins, take my burdens and let me yoke up with you. I need you to take my life and have your will, not mine. Thank you Jesus for coming into my heart. Thank You for helping me ‘Lay Aside Every Weight.’”
