Everything That Hinders
By Susan Klein
“Let
us throw off everything that hinders, and the sin that so easily entangles…”
Hebrews
12:1
Last night, I sat down to watch a new television series that aired for the first time. It promised to be filled with suspense and intrigue. Before the show started, a warning came on for some of the content that was about to be viewed. Oh dear. I really wanted to watch it, but now was rather uncertain. I watched it anyway. I viewed images that I should not have seen and heard things that were not beneficial for my mind. Why didn’t I just turn it off before I got hooked on the story line?!!
The above
verse clearly states to throw off EVERYTHING that hinders. Oh, it’s not always
difficult to avoid those blatant sins that can entangle us, but what about
those things that are just hinderers? I believe that is more of a challenge for
us today than when this verse was written. We have so many things in our lives
that can distract or hinder us from running the race God has called us to run.
Take technology, for example. I recently got a new MacBook Pro. In and of
itself, it is not a hinderer. In fact, it has made my life a little easier;
however, I find myself spending more and more time on the computer and less and
less time with family. Or, I sit down to write, but first I browse Facebook or
Pinterest, and before I know it, I’ve allowed it to hinder me.
God has created each
of us for His purpose, and gifted us with time to use for His glory. He has
also provided us with many things for our enjoyment, and wants us to delight in
them. But when even those things that we enjoy become a hindrance, we must
“throw them off.” A word picture that comes to mind is a scene from the movie, The African Queen. Humphrey Bogart’s character, Charlie Allnut,
has just physically pulled his tugboat through a swampy area. As he exhaustedly
climbs back in the boat, Rosie, his passenger, notices leeches all over his
back. They both frantically begin to rip the leeches off of his skin before
they get too attached. It’s quite an emotional scene.
Likewise, we are to
quickly “throw off” those things that hinder us before they become an attached
part of our life.…and let us run with
endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus…
(Hebrews 12:1b-2a NASB)
GOING DEEPER:
1. What types of things hinder you? Might they
include worldly allurements, physical possessions, wrong thoughts, or even
enjoyments?
2. What lifestyle changes can you make to “throw
off” these things that hinder?
FURTHER READING:
Susan is a We Women Bible Study Coordinator and one of
its teachers. She and her husband Mark enjoy tutoring and working with
inner-city youth.
