TAPE

The call on your life as a believer in Christ is to run like you're in a race with a finish line and everything depends on you hitting the tape.

To get there, Hebrews says: 'Lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us.'

Not just your big ol' giant creepy sins, but 'every encumbrance.'  Every weight.  Every obstacle.  Everything that weighs you down.

Because there are all kinds of things you can carry into the race that won't help you run it fast.  They'll just slow you down.

The race of faith isn't run well by asking wrong questions.

"What wrong with this or that or the other thing?"  

Wrong questions.  Weights.  Obstacles.

It's run well by asking, 'Is this the path to greater faith or greater love or greater purity or greater courage or greater humility or greater self-control?'

Not, 'Is this a sin?'  But, 'Does it help me run better?  Is it getting in my way?  Is it dragging me down?  Is it holding me back?'

Don't ask about your music -- your movies -- your parties -- your habits -- 'What's so wrong with them?'

Ask, 'Does it help me run faster for Jesus?'

And hit the tape full speed.

And be blessed.