Snapshots
Biblical Truth
OF
Excess Baggage
BIBLE REFERENCES:
Hebrews 12:1-3 (NIV) “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
James 1: 2-4 (NIV) “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
1 Peter 1:5-7 (NIV) “… though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”
1 Peter 1:13-16 (NIV) “Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’”
1 Peter 2:1-3 “Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.”
1 Peter 3:8, 9 “Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.”
APPLICATION:
We all come into this life with excess baggage; baggage that hinders our faith and relationship with God. This baggage can be compared to barnacles clinging to the hull of a ship. As the ship travels through the water these barnacles create drag resistance that hinders the ship’s progress. So it is in our spiritual lives with all that excess baggage we try to drag along with us.
God has ways of helping us get rid of this baggage. It is called trials. These trials help us face up to those things that want to cling on and hinder our progress in our walk of faith. The author of Hebrews tells us to, “Throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles” (Hebrews 12:1). We must take the initiative in getting rid of our excess baggage, God will not do it for us.
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A PRAYER:
“God help me to get rid of all excess baggage in my life; Baggage that does nothing but hinder my faith and my relationship with you.”
SNAPSHOT:
