Weight that Slows

[FJK]

Just now, Alive said:

We must have furniture while in this world. I have learned to hold those things loosely, so that their loss, if necessary pails in comparison to the Goal.

Yes that's true, but suppose that furniture comes in the form of, say, a job that refuses to allow any form of Christian expression and encourages secular views opposing it, do we have to have that weight or can we dump it and find one that allows us to freely be Christian?  Or we face a governmental requirement in our work or life forcing us to violate our Christian values?

How do we approach this, how do we get rid of this weight? (it's actually a quite involved question, and one that gets played out in real life for most of us at some point).

[Alive]

4 minutes ago, FJK said:

Yes that's true, but suppose that furniture comes in the form of, say, a job that refuses to allow any form of Christian expression and encourages secular views opposing it, do we have to have that weight or can we dump it and find one that allows us to freely be Christian?  Or we face a governmental requirement in our work or life forcing us to violate our Christian values?

How do we approach this, how do we get rid of this weight? (it's actually a quite involved question, and one that gets played out in real life for most of us at some point).

Then we have choices to make and our hearts desires are tested.

It really is very simple…seek first Him and all these things will be added.

When I was a young man, still almost a boy, I took those words seriously and my choices of occupation were so directed. In principle, due to what I was born with, I was capable of doing most anything that man can do. I chose a simple path, as I believe, I was directed.

If we find ourselves in a hard place? Leave and Trust Him. He will honor that.

[Mr. M]

1 hour ago, Alive said:

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,”

(Hebrews 12:1 NKJV)

In these days where evil abounds all around us, as the Day of the Lord nears, let’s shed all that hinders our race and rather run as we are fleet of foot in the power of our New Life.

This race requires endurance and endurance requires hydration and nutrition. Stay in the Word and consume His bread and drink His Water. Be so nourished and run, brethren.

Galatians 6:1-5 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For each one shall bear his own load.

The Law of Christ expects those in Christ to share worldly burdens, even as we partake of the sufferings of Christ, and joyfully accept the load placed upon us by His Father's Will. Good advice in this matter comes from John also.

1 John 2:15-17 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

And James

4:1-4 Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

[FJK]

18 minutes ago, Alive said:

If we find ourselves in a hard place? Leave and Trust Him. He will honor that.

I've found that true in my life, but I also find that I have a strong tendency to lie to myself about what I'm doing, pretending to myself that I.m seeking the Kingdom of God when in reality I'm really seeking the Kingdom of Me.

Maybe others don't have to struggle with this, we each have our own burdens, but I do.  Self honesty is not one of those things that comes easily to me, self deception coming more easily.

 

[Alive]

9 minutes ago, FJK said:

I've found that true in my life, but I also find that I have a strong tendency to lie to myself about what I'm doing, pretending to myself that I.m seeking the Kingdom of God when in reality I'm really seeking the Kingdom of Me.

Maybe others don't have to struggle with this, we each have our own burdens, but I do.  Self honesty is not one of those things that comes easily to me, self deception coming more easily.

 

Yup--we are all different in different ways, but the core principle of flesh is what we have in common.

But lest we forget, "we have THIS treasure in an earthen vessel.

2Cor. 4:7 (NKJVS)   But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

The major struggle of my life has been 'pride'. Even though I know I have so little reason to be proud, it is always there  waiting for an opportunity. The silver side of that--is that it keeps me very much needing His Help and Grace and Mercy. The enemy says--see, you are yet sinful. I reply not to him, but to my Lord and confess it--daily.

I do not believe this will stop until I am finally and forever changed. I actually, know this problem to be His Grace to me.

[Neighbor]

2 hours ago, FJK said:

Yes that's true, but suppose that furniture comes in the form of, say, a job that refuses to allow any form of Christian expression and encourages secular views opposing it, do we have to have that weight or can we dump it and find one that allows us to freely be Christian?  Or we face a governmental requirement in our work or life forcing us to violate our Christian values?

How do we approach this, how do we get rid of this weight? (it's actually a quite involved question, and one that gets played out in real life for most of us at some point).

Hi, 

Well  if the world hates Yeshua, and it does, it will not allow freedom to be like Yeshua as servants and friends of our Lord.  It will oppose that overtly and covertly.

Yet if a Christian lives the embodiment of the faith  of Jesus God will be glorified. The living of life in a manner that glorifies God will be seen as different from the way  of the world, even in a secular setting.

One need not be a street corner preacher shouting repent repent  in order to be shinning  reflection of Yeshua. Just the absence of things like profanity of speech, the lack of engaging in bitter conversation, or being polite and courteous will come through as being something different.

Someone will ask- Are you a Christian? The answer will be yes, and that will be an invite to off duty conversation about our Lord.

 

[LiveWire]

Hebrews 12:

Therefore, since we have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also get rid of every weight and entangling sin.

 

4 In struggling against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of bloodshed.

5 Have you forgotten the warning addressed to you as sons?

 

“My son, do not take lightly the discipline of Adonai

or lose heart when you are corrected by Him,

because Adonai disciplines the one He loves

and punishes every son He accepts.”

[Alive]

On 6/4/2023 at 12:22 PM, LiveWire said:

Hebrews 12:

Therefore, since we have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also get rid of every weight and entangling sin.

 

4 In struggling against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of bloodshed.

5 Have you forgotten the warning addressed to you as sons?

 

“My son, do not take lightly the discipline of Adonai

or lose heart when you are corrected by Him,

because Adonai disciplines the one He loves

and punishes every son He accepts.”

Amen! We are in this world, but no longer of this world. And so we are able to shed the shackles and weights that would keep us from continually running the race--as our God provides Grace and Strength.

[farouk]

8 minutes ago, Alive said:

Amen! We are in this world, but no longer of this world. And so we are able to shed the shackles and weights that would keep us from continually running the race--as our God provides Grace and Strength.

@Alive Reminds me of Isaiah 25.4: "For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall."
 

[Alive]

Just now, farouk said:

@Alive Reminds me of Isaiah 25.4: "For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall."
 

Amen, brother. Amen.