Hebrews 12: 1
KJV ~ ….let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us,….”
NIV ~ let us throw off everything that hinders,
NLT ~ let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up.
NASB ~ lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us,
AMP ~ stripping off every unnecessary weight and the sin which so easily and cleverly entangles us
*Helps word study ~
Lay aside: 659:apotithémi: to put off, lay aside lay off or aside, renounce, stow away, put.
The sin: 266 hamartía (a feminine noun derived from "not" and 3313 /méros, "a part, share of") – properly, no-share ("no part of"); loss (forfeiture) because not hitting the target; sin (missing the mark). 266/hamartía ("sin, forfeiture because missing the mark") is the brand of sin that emphasizes its self-originate,(self-empowered) nature.
The observance of lying vanities, wiles, stategies and snares of the evil one, serve to divide us from God. By giving heed to the things that are contrary to the truth God has spoken, we begin to engage with and adapt to the lie. The lies embraced become wrong worship, idols. These, of course, ultimately become the strongholds that limit our lives and set our boundaries, keeping us from becoming the fullness of His workmanship created in Christ.
Can we call the lying vanities that we observe the weights that trip us up, I believe so. Is there one particular lie we refuse to let go of that becomes the sin of unbelief which has entagled? We could identify it by the propensity to continually come back to it when pressed in it’s particular vulnerabilty.
We all have them, our own personal limitations, our own stumbling points. As I’ve said, they are revealed by the phrase, I know what God says, but…. This is the strongest indication our heart has departed from the living God. Satan must have our agreement to build a lying vanity. I can not enter into the rest He has for me because of what I choose to believe. Our will is the most powerful tool God has created for man. This is our greatest sacrifice, to yield back to Him that freedom to choose and willfully submit to His leadership and direction.
Joshua asked, how long will you put off entering and possessing the land, Joshua 18:3. Proverbs 6:9 asks How long will you lie there, when will you arise? The Lord asked Samuel,1 Samuel 16, “How long will you mourn over Saul?” We all have our ‘how long’s’ and dependent on how ensared, entangled or encumbered we might be by the lies, there is always hope and deliverance for us. Because, dearly beloved, no matter how big and strong the lie, God is just greater and all things are possible to Him who chooses to believe.
The blind man in Marks gospel, sits by the road crying for mercy when he hears Jesus is passing by. His cries are rejected by the disciples yet he cries louder. Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me. Lies come with torment and the torment works to control us. Jesus calls for him and the disciples now encourage him (which is irony in itself) but notice what the blind man does, from Mark 10: he first casts off the cloak that identifies him with his condition and ability to beg, and the end of the story is him recovering his sight. No more blindness which makes me mindful of 2 Cor. 4:4 where we learn the God of this world has blinded the minds of them that believe not to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God…. There is something Satan doesn’t want us to see or believe! But thanks be to God, He who has said, Let light shine out of darkness has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ and sets us free.
The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Romans 13:12
Hebrews chapter three reminds each of us, the word did not profit them not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. I believe with every word, the grace of God abounds to set us free. May this truly be a life giving, liberating word that brings new freedoms and great joy to us all.