Stripping Off

I'm travelling today and have had to pack very lightly as I'm going to be trekking across London with my luggage.

I've posted before about how I'm not very good/awful at packing light and only taking the bare minimum, but knowing that I'd have to carry it all this weekend has made me re-evaluate what I've packed.

I have got rid of everything that might hinder me and weigh me down.

The writer of Hebrews encouraged his readers to do the same in a spiritual sense, too.

"Let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us."

[Hebrews 12:1 NLT]

Whilst I have no intention of running anywhere today (unless I am close to missing my trains), I want to run the race that God has set out before me.

And I want to be able to run without feeling hindered or held back or restricted in any way.

I need to adopt the same approach to my spiritual 'luggage' as I have taken with my literal luggage today. I need to get rid of the things which I don't need in my life, but which I seem to lug around with me.

I need to strip them away.

Crowds

In my opinion, there are good crowds and bad crowds. Bad crowds include: Christmas shoppers, the rowdy crowd making their way home past my flat and singing loudly at 3am and, most annoying of all, the slow-walking, pavement-blocking crowd.

But good crowds can be supportive and collaborative and encouraging. They can work together to achieve far more than individuals can; they can support and encourage each other; they can be a powerful force for good.

One of the most amazing things about watching the Olympics this week has been the reaction and support of the crowds, especially the crowd supporting the home team. The sheer volume of the cheering and shouting every time someone from team GB has been competing has been immense.

So many athletes have commented on the support of the crowds too and the effect that is has had on them. When the athletes have been nervous or overwhelmed, the crowd has encouraged them; when they haven't done as well as they had hoped, it has helped them to pick themselves up; when they have grown tired and weary, it has motivated them to keep going.

In the same way, the Bible tells us that we have a huge crowd of witnesses, spurring us on and encouraging us to persevere in our walk with God. A crowd of witnesses who have gone before us and who are on our side.

Yesterday, I wrote about the Holy Spirit being on our side and being our coach. We also have a crowd supporting us - other Christians who have gone before us and who can give us advice and encouragement, or those who walk alongside us and cheer us on.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us."

[Hebrews 12:1 NLT]

Pete Greig writes in his poem "The Vision" -

"They (Christians) don't need fame from names. Instead they grin quietly upwards and hear the crowds chanting again and again: "COME ON!"

We weren't meant to run this race alone. It's a team sport. Let's cheer each other on and listen out for the roaring support of others.