Written by Scott Fiddler
The Word
1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Heb 12:1–2 (NASB)
Reflection
In Woody Allen’s movie, Sweet and Lowdown, Emmet Ray (Sean Penn) is a jazz guitarist in pursuit of greatness. Summing up his approach to life in pursuit of becoming a great jazz guitarist, Ray says:
I never got involved with the ownership of things. You know, I never wanted to be encumbered by entanglements.
Sweet and Lowdown (1999).
The line is typical Woody Allen, a marble rye of humor and introspection carefully crafted to convey a deeper message, in this case, that the nature of the pursuit of greatness in art requires someone deeply sensitive (“sweet”) but also sufficiently self-centered (“lowdown”).
The line has also become a running joke between me and my wife. When she asks me to do something around the house and I’m busy doing my own thing I tell her, “I’m an artist. I can’t be encumbered by entanglements.”
In meditating on the scripture above then, I couldn’t help but notice the juxtaposition of the same words in verse 1: “let us lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us.” It’s the crazy sort of thing the Holy Spirit does with us, using our individual experience to enable us to see in scripture what we might otherwise miss or others don’t see.
The writer of Hebrews is making the point that to successfully pursue Jesus we must be singularly focused on that pursuit, and that singular focus is demonstrated in the laying aside of distractions. Encumbrances take many forms, such as sin, unhealthy or immoral relationships, bitterness and unforgiveness, and the pursuit of wealth and worldly desires. Encumbrances serve as additional weight we carry in the race.
And herein lies the danger in being encumbered in our pursuit of Jesus. It is not that we will just have to seek forgiveness from God via the blood of Christ for them, but that we will become entangled.
In a foot race, encumbrances lead to failure. That is why runners wear the lightest shoes and the sheerest attire. In the race Christians run, encumbrances lead to entanglements that can lead to disqualification. Disqualification happens not because Jesus’ blood is not sufficient to cover our sin, but because entanglements can cause us to quit, to not finish in faith, and thereby be disqualified:
Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
1 Corinthians 9:26–27 (NASB)
Application
With what encumbrances have you burdened yourself? Maybe it is time to lay them aside before they become entanglements that lead to disqualification.
Prayer
Lord, show me by Your Holy Spirit the encumbrances and entanglements I have taken on and that need to be laid aside. Amen.
City Life Starter 
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