Out With the Old

by Timothy Fortune

Unlike most of the male gender I enjoy shopping with my wife. Be it for clothes, shoes, furniture, home decorations or whatever, I like to shop. When we make a purchase and have some new item to bring home, we quickly do away with the old to make room for the new. We are proud of our newly purchased item and have no difficulty laying aside that which was out of date or old. We have no problem letting go of the old when we have this new thing to enjoy.  

Paul talks about laying aside in Hebrews 12:1. Paul says, “...lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us...” Accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior we now can walk in the newness of life that He gives. Jesus has purchased for us a new life that is abundant and full of purpose and meaning. So as we walk every day in our new life we should willingly lay aside those old things that cause us to stumble and weight us down. I believe that this is something that we will continue to do as long as we live. None of us are perfect and as we grow in Christ, He will reveal to us things that are trying to weight us down and hinder our walk with Him. Jesus doesn’t want us to be burdened down with life or anything else. In Matthew 11:30 Jesus says, “For my yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Walking in the new life of Jesus is liberating and not binding. Besides, what in the world is worth giving up the indescribable freedom and inner peace that can only come thought a relationship with Jesus Christ? Just as it is easy to toss out an old shirt after you have bought a new one, with the same ease we should discard those old things that ensnare us for the new life in Jesus.

When you are faced with the opportunity to lay aside some old way or habit that God has revealed to you is a sin, with joy boot it out and open wide the doors of your life for that which God desires to impart. So go ahead toss those ensnarement and sins and allow yourself to be totally immersed in Jesus.