The Daily Fountain Devotional Sunday, May 1, 2022
The Daily Fountain Devotional Sunday, May 1, 2022
Sunday, May 1, 2022
TOPIC: LAYING ASIDE EVERY WEIGHT
TEXT: Hebrews 11:32-40; 12:1-2
32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: 33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: 36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: 37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: 40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
Hebrew 12:1-2
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
The Daily Fountain Devotional Sunday, May 1, 2022
INTRODUCTION TEXT
Many of the witnesses referred to in verse 1 of Hebrews 12 are listed in Chapter 11. Many more are listed in one or more of the 66 Books of the Bible. A lot more are listed in the "Lamb's Book of Life" (Rev. 20:12-15). Are you in the updated version of that list? One characteristic of these witnesses is that they lived and died by faith. A key aspect of living by faith is to "lay aside every weight" or sin which easily entangles us. What are the habits or lifestyles that could constitute "weights" in your life? Are they similar to those indicated in Song of Songs 2:15; Judges 16:1, 4; Proverbs 20:1; Titus 1:12? Mention others common in our environment.
In Matthew 13:22, we see that "cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches" are "weights" that can "choke the word of God" and make the Christian unfruitful. Can you identify other "weights" that are hindering you from "running the race set before us?" (Heb. 12:1; Matt. 13:22). We can "lay aside these weights" by letting Christ into our hearts (Rev. 3:20). When we do this, we then receive a new birth and power to live for Him (2 Cor. 5:17; John 1:12; Col. 3:16).
Prayer: Turn Psalm 139 23:24 into a heartfelt prayer.