A teaching by Rev. Barbara Williams, President of the Ministry of the Watchman International
Week of December 30, 2024 – January 3, 2025
MONDAY
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 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 has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:1-2
We are admonished here to walk through this life as a long distance runner would. Runners are always looking for ways to increase their speed and their chances to win the race set before them. Athletic clothing is designed to help the athlete perform his best. At one time modesty was taken into consideration when designing running wear. Now it is aerodynamics. Man wants to see how fast he can go. This is true of the spiritual race we run. We must be mindful of spiritual “aerodynamics.” We must lighten our load, so we can run this race with patience.
If you are in need of healing, there is good news! Proverbs 4:20-22 SAYS:
My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
So there is life and health in God’s word. Since God’s word is medicine, we must take it like we would a prescription. I suggest three times a day, like you would your food. Remember, healing is the children’s bread. Consider this your “dose” for today. Remember, read, and meditate three times a day the following:
Rx: John 4:49-53 ~ The nobleman said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies!” Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your son lives.” So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way. And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, “Your son lives!” Then he inquired of them the hour when he got better. And they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives.” And he himself believed, and his whole household.
“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
2 Timothy 2:15
If you’ve never studied the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, we invite you to join us as we read through the Bible in a year. Read and meditate on these chapters this week:
December 30: 2 Chronicles 35, Revelation 21, Malachi 3, John 20
December 31: 2 Chronicles 36, Revelation 22, Malachi 4, John 21
January 1: Genesis 1, Matthew 1, Ezra 1, Acts 1
January 2: Genesis 2, Matthew 2, Ezra 2, Acts 2
January 3: Genesis 3, Matthew 3, Ezra 3, Acts 3
January 4: Genesis 4, Matthew 4, Ezra 4, Acts 4
January 5: Genesis 5, Matthew 5, Ezra 5, Acts 5
TUESDAY
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 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 has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:1-2
What does the author mean by “weight?” What things increase our spiritual load? Well, our load was lightened by Jesus, our great Burden Bearer. What things did He take from us? He took oppressive things. “Surely, He has bourne our griefs and carried our sorrows,” (Isaiah 53:4). What a blessing! He has taken all the pain out of life. I didn’t say we wouldn’t experience pain or sorrow, but we can certainly roll them over onto Him, for He is our great Burden Bearer. When He healed the multitudes, He proved that He Himself took our infirmities and carried our sorrows. No one else has ever laid claim to taking the pains of mankind. Sorrow is a burden we need not bear, just as sickness is a burden we need not bear. Jesus expects us to run for Him, and He knows it is hard to do with the burdens of life upon us, that’s why He took them from us.
WEDNESDAY
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 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 has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:1-2
Sin is a weight. Sin increases our personal debt. Debt is a fact of life, because of sin. When we have our finances analyzed, we calculate our “net worth,” which is what is left after our debts are deducted from our assets. Even the wealthiest persons have some debt. It seems debt is an unavoidable fact of life, because it is the wage of sin. Debt came because of sin. Jesus allows us to have our sins and debts forgiven. He wants us to lay sin aside, repent, and get back into the race. We can lighten our load tremendously if we get rid of guilt, regret, and misgiving. When we lay aside the weight of sin, the enemy cannot sidetrack us and pull us out of the race.
THURSDAY
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.
Matthew 11:28-30
Jesus says we can run a race of rest. If we yoke up with Him, we run a race of rest. Imagine that! It almost reminds me of the story of the tortoise and the hare, except, instead of being overconfident in our running abilities and missing it, we can run this race patiently if we take upon us the yoke of the Lord. His yoke is easy and His burden is light. I love that about Jesus. Just when we’re about to get concerned, He reminds us that His is the lighter burden… His is the easier yoke. He expects us to be connected to Him in such a way that He actually carries the heavier load! What a loving, burden bearing Savior we have.
FRIDAY
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.
Matthew 11:28-30
We were not made to go through this life alone. When we feel overwhelmed, Jesus wants us to remember that we can connect ourselves with His team, or yoke. This scripture infers that we will try to connect ourselves with something or someone at some time. I love the fact that Jesus says to yoke ourselves with Him. We can actually strap ourselves in with Him and never leave Him. Not only is He our Helper but our Companion. He pulls the heaviest portion of the load, so that we feel lighter and more capable of running this race without tiring out or giving up. There is no burnout if you are connected with Him, just the light load of the victorious runner that you are. Hook up to the Savior in your everyday activities. You’ll finish the race for sure.