Hebrews 12:1-3 – Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Do you ever feel “encumbered?” I do. I’m not sure if it’s what this verse is talking about, (or perhaps I just get lazy), but I often go through seasons where my mind is just not as engaged as I’d like it to be. I bet you do, too!

Many things can cause distractions. My life has been in a bit of turmoil for the last few months. November started with a trip overseas to visit family. Upon our return, we entered the very busy seasons of Thanksgiving and Christmas and finished out the last two weeks of the year saying goodbye to my father. As many of you know, after things like that, you don’t just jump back into your regular life. It takes time.

As I head back into what accounts for “normal” in my life, I have a new appreciation for the saying, “I don’t have the heart for it.” Until our heart is engaged, our mind will wander. So, this passage from Hebrews encourages me – it tells me what to do with my heart so that I can continue to run the race that God has set before me, without distractions.

I must fix the spiritual eyes of my heart on Jesus.

Paul uses this same imagery in his prayer for the believers.

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe (Ephesians 1:18-19a).

I can’t fix my physical eyes on Jesus, but spiritually, I can see Him clearly – in His Word, as the Holy Spirit enlightens my heart to understand.

Jesus is the perfect example of someone who kept His sight on the end goal. He endured the cross, despising the shame, and endured the hostility of his accusers. He finished His assignment and sat down at the right hand of God as the author and perfector of our faith. By fixing our eyes on Him, we also can run our race without growing weary…without losing heart.

There are two things we must lay aside so that the eyes of our heart can be fully fixed on Jesus.

First, we must lay aside any encumbrances. The Greek word is ogkos, also translated “weight.” It’s used to describe whatever is prominent, protuberance, bulk, or mass, hence a burden or weight.

For a runner, carrying extra weight in any form would be a game-changer, limiting the ability to run well or win. Since I have a weakness for sweets, especially chocolate, I can identify with “extra weight,” but this passage is speaking of a spiritual race, so these are spiritual weights or burdens. They are the things in our hearts and minds that we need to lay aside. We are to cast all our cares on Jesus because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7).

What is it that is so prominent in your mind or heart that it distracts you from seeing Jesus? These cares do not disappear, but they change hands. Instead of us carrying them, we must let Jesus carry them.

Second, we must lay aside the sin that easily entangles us. I like the KJV translation: the sin that does so easily beset us. The Greek word is euperistatos, meaning “skillfully surrounding.” Vines says it “signifies ‘standing well (i.e., easily) around’ (eu, ‘well,’ peri, ‘around,’ statos, ‘standing,’ i.e., easily encompassing). It describes sin as having advantage in favor of its prevailing.”

What is it that trips you up? Every. Single. Time. I can go back to our analogy and the extra weight a runner must avoid and confess, that if there’s chocolate in the house, there’s a 99% chance I’m going to eat it, no matter how fervently I try to resist it. Sin is like that. It calls our name and speaks to our heart’s desire. We must lay it aside – get rid of it, avoid it at all costs – so that we are not entangled.

Isn’t God’s Word so practical? There are two kinds of distractions. Some distractions are clearly sinful. But other things that entangle us may just be unnecessary, or not best for us, or just keep us from fulfilling our purpose and finishing our race well. According to this passage, we are to lay aside both.

What’s my takeaway?

For me personally, part of my “race” is to write. My mind and heart have not been as engaged as they could be, so I’m going to ask God to help me lay aside any distractions and start running.

I have set a new challenge for myself to blog daily over the next 31 days. I am going to fix my eyes on Jesus “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3). My theme will be “wisdom for the heart” as found in the book of Proverbs. With 31 chapters, it lends itself perfectly to this project.

As the psalmist says:

Psalm 49:3-4 – My mouth will speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart will be understanding. I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will express my riddle on the harp.

How about you? We’re already one month into this new year. Time passes so quickly! Are you running your race well, with your eyes fixed on Jesus? What encumbrance will you lay aside today?