Hebrews 12:1 tells us to "..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." It's no mistake that the writer of Hebrews compares our walk of faith to a race. Paul often relates the Christian life to warfare, athletics and to farming. In all three of these lifestyles, there is opposition set to stop us from finishing what we set out to accomplish. Simply said, the walk of faith isn't easy.

The word "beset" in this passage carries the meaning of "A competitor who thwarts a racer's run; to knock him out of his lane; to get him to run a different direction." As we press toward our purpose in Christ, realize that sin's goal is to distract you from your divine destiny. Maybe it's too much television, or not enough of God's Word. Whatever is distracting us from Jesus must be eliminated. As a former athlete, I remember that in preparation for the season, my training schedule demanded that I eliminate certain things out of my life. The reason was that those "things" would distract me from being the best I could be. Let's all be the best that the Father has called to be and not be knocked out of our lane! Have a great week.

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