BE MINDFUL OF EXCESS LUGGAGE!

Dearly Beloved, BE MINDFUL OF EXCESS LUGGAGE! “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1 NKJV). One of the unforgettable experiences I had when I was in the United Kingdom for a postgraduate study was what happened to my wife at Heathrow as she was returning to Nigeria after her two-week visit to me. There was a misunderstanding of the information about luggage found on the website of the airline that would convey her back to Nigeria. As she was about to check in her luggage, it was discovered that she had excess luggage! As a rule, she either had to pay for the excess luggage or reduce the contents of her luggage to the approved weight. She was not ready to pay, so we started sorting out what she could remove to make her luggage conform to the approved weight. The time we used to do this made her to almost miss her flight. Many people in life are likewise living with excess luggage that is hindering them to move forward in their God-giving purpose in life. They are like Abram (later known as Abraham) in the Holy Bible that left his people with an excess luggage in person of Lot for Canaan to fulfill the divine call (Genesis 12:4). As long as Lot was with Abram, he (Abram) could not hear directly from God. Lot was a clog in the progress of Abram. There was no peace for the servants of Abram till Lot and his servants separated from Abram and his servants (see Genesis 13). Even when Lot left to take the better part of the land that was meant for Abram, Abram still needed to care for Lot by rescuing him from some rampaging kings (see Genesis 14). It is interesting to note that it was after Abram did away with his excess luggage (that is, Lot) that God spoke with Abram and even made a covenant with him (see Genesis 15). Like Abram, the excess luggage in the lives of some people is other people. The excess luggage may be sin. On many occasions, it is desires for mundane things that may not be sins in themselves. Nonetheless, these mundane things are weighing people down. The writer of the book to the Hebrews admonished us to be mindful of excess luggage in order to be able to run the heavenly race that is set before us. This is so because many heavenly witnesses (faithful people that have lived before us) are watching us. What are the things (or even people) that may be regarded as excess luggage in your life? Shed such luggage now before they hinder you from reaching your divinely appointed goal in life. Be mindful of excess luggage! In His service, Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor). Prayer Point: Pray that you will always be mindful of things or people that may serve as excess luggage in your life journey, and be able to do away with them.