Hebrews 12:1-2, "Let's throw off any extra baggage, get rid of the sin that trips us up and fix our eyes on Jesus."

Think

Can you imagine going to the grocery store, heading into a business meeting, or walking into school while carrying a backpack weighted down with a bunch of rocks? Imagine how ridiculous that would look and how uncomfortable that would be! Yet, that's exactly how many people go through life. They carry baggage from their past, and it weighs them down, keeping them from moving freely and experiencing joy. The fact is, life comes with baggage. Some of the baggage is emotional. Some is relational. Some may be spiritual. But no matter what the baggage looks like, we all have some. Why we carry it and how we carry it may vary. But we all carry it. Jesus, though, wants us to live baggage free. It comes down to a question of focus. When we keep Jesus as the focus of our lives, He will show us the way to truly "throw off any extra baggage" and experience a life of freedom. Have you made Jesus your focus?

 

Act

The key to ridding our lives of baggage starts when we admit that we cannot handle it on our own. Find time today (perhaps at lunch) to watch or rewatch Pastor Ed's message from last weekend (Just click "Ed Young" on the home page of the APP to see past messages). And discover the freedom that comes when you finally admit, "I can't change."

 

Pray

Dear Heavenly Father, I know You want me to experience a life of freedom and joy in Christ. Help me, now, to lay my baggage at Your feet and to keep You as the focus of my life so I can make the most of every day. In Jesus' name, Amen.