DROP THAT WEIGHT!

Hey there dear gist partner.

Happy new month!

It’s been a minute, and such a whirlwind the last couple of weeks, but I think it’s safe to say that I’m back. So, welcome to today’s gist.

I was reading Hebrews 12 today and something struck me and sort of propelled me back here because I didn’t want to hoard it. Verse 1 says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,” (ESV). When I read that, I had the mental picture of an athlete running a race. Now whenever you watch races, you’d notice that every athlete running in any kind of competition always wears extremely light clothing; you’d never see someone about to race in the Olympics for example wearing a hooded jacket, jean trousers and timberland boots, they’re always dressed with very light and free clothing. The reason: to give them freedom to run.

As I painted this picture in my head and had these musings, I realized why the Bible tells us to lay aside those things which “so easily beset us” (KJV). Now why do we need to lay these easily besetting things aside? Because they are encumbrances to our success in the race we are running, they weigh us down and they prevent us from running as well as we should. As I wrote this previous sentence, I just had a thought that I’d also like to share: if someone wore the aforementioned hoodie and jeans to run a race, they would still run ooo! It’s not like the outfit would prevent them from running, the question then becomes “but how well did they really run?” Even if na Usain Bolt wear heavy cloth come run, e still no go do well for the race. But would he still be running? YES! However, they would not be running as they should and that is where the issue comes. You see, sometimes it’s easy to hold onto the weights because after all, we still dey face Heaven and ‘all run na run’ as long as we last last reach Heaven. But I tell you, ALL RUN NO BE RUN OO! It may look in the beginning like you are still able to run the race despite the plenty baggage you are tying yourself down with but make I clear you once; na small small you go take turn until you realize say you no face Heaven again oo! See these things that the Bible is warning us about includes sin oo! And sin has no place in Heaven so you can be deceiving yourself that you’re still running the Heavenly race despite being encumbered by sin meanwhile, you don face Hell since you no know. And that’s why there is no need for, or sense in, gambling your future in Heaven because you do not want to let go of the weights. It can’t end well for you if you hold unto them.

You know one characteristic of these weights that the Bible specifically mentions? It easily besets or clings to us. This means that the process is not one seriously pronounced activity that clues you in to the fact that you are becoming weighed down, e go just be like say you sleep wake up realize say weight don add on top your body. It’s a subtle move on the devil’s part to get these weights added on you and if you’re not careful or sensitive, you could wind up never realizing that you now have extra baggage, and this baggage na wetin no good. It’s really easy to get weighed down; one little compromise here, once small disobedience there and before you know it, you’ve packed weight. So as Christians we must he very careful and cautious to ensure that we do not unknowingly pick up weights.

There’s also the fact that some of these things may not be things that seem bad in and of themselves, they may not actually be bad at all sef, it may be the case that it is how you interact with these things that have made them to become weight to you and that is why you must lay them aside.

When God said this to me earlier today, there were specific things that came to mind, things that He has even mentioned to me before and I didn’t take proper stock of, when He brought them to mind, I had to make the decision to let go of these weights, I’m sure you have started identifying some of them now; people, habits, places, platforms, things, possessions… the list is endless for the things the devil could use to pack weight on you. When you find the weight, don’t just nod and admit that it is a weight, go further to lay it aside. Remove yourself from the place of being weighed down, after all wetin no see you no fit climb on top you weigh you down!

May God grant us the discernment to see the weights and the grace to let go of them.

NLS HOT GIST: I told you we’ll be back when results are out and results are out! They’ve been out for two weeks sef, came out the day before Good Friday. Of course your girl passed! Nothing dey spoil for God hand and na there my results been dey since so no wahala for that regard. So, you can begin to arrange the business transactions that need lawyers, dem go soon call me to bar and I go soon dey completely qualified to handle them. Sincerely, when I think about my journey through the Nigerian Law School and everything that God did in and for me culminating in my results, really, God is too good to me!!! So, help me tell God thank you. 

And please, make sure to address me properly as person wey get 2 law degrees wey I be, it wasn’t easy ooo! Na God run am.

Well, that is that about that as far as that is concerned, see you next week!

 

Love,

Achenyo wey get LL.B and B.L