Jesus once said, "And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares" (Luke 21:34). "Surfeiting" is an old term meaning an excess or excessive amount, or overindulgence. In short, it pertains to that which is unnecessary and serves only to slow us down or hinder us in the race of life.
A runner sheds all excess weight and unnecessary clothing. He wants to win! Everything superfluous must go. The same applies to the Christian life. There are disciplines that must be observed. Often the heart tries desperately to hang on to them, but they must go if we are to please the Savior and be used freely by Him.
The writer of Hebrews puts it this way: "...let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience 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 is set down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:1-2).
Jesus did it for us; will we do so for Him?
dick christen
