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One
of the crazy things I do annually is participate in a 4K run at 9000 feet in the
Rockies! To make it more appealing to donors, I do the run wearing a backpack
with my ventriloquist dummy along for the ride. By doing so, I help raise funds
to send children to "church" camp in the summer.
For those of you who really don't know anything about running, I
should explain. Running at higher altitudes is hard enough without adding extra
weight. In fact, in my case, I have enough extra weight of my own without the
backpack! I don't recommend that you ever try to win a race by adding more weight
or clothing!
In Hebrews
12:1-2 , the author uses the illustration
of a distance runner to describe the Christian life. He says, "throw off everything
that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles... run with perseverance the
race marked out for (you)" (verse 1 NIV).
Just as extra clothing and weight is a hindrance to the runner, so
sin and over commitment drag you down as a believer, causing you to not run the
race you could. Sin entanglements will cause you to fall flat on your face spiritually.
Have you taken an inventory lately of what you are "carrying"? If
you are stumbling in your walk with Christ, it may be that you are not dealing
with sin in your life and the good things you do that crowd out the best. Cast
them off and run the race set before you.
All Scripture references are from the New American
Standard Version unless otherwise noted.
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~ The
Race 
