Read: 1 John 2:12-17

Let us lay aside every weight,
and the sin which so easily
ensnares us. -Heb. 12:1

A former commander of the Imperial Russian Navy said that he went to
London during World War I for training. There he learned how to fly one
of three dirigibles that Russia had bought from England.

But first he had to learn to fly a balloon. He recalled getting
into the gondola and seeing all four sides covered with sandbags. To
begin the ascent, sand was released until the huge balloon slowly lifted
off the ground. As more sand went over the side, the craft ascended
higher.

The man then applied this to our relationship with the Lord:
"Now that I’m a Christian, I understand that when God begins to
clean up my heart, I get closer and closer to Him."

Hebrews 12:1 and 1 John 2:15 express that same spiritual truth.
Carrying this world’s weight hampers our fellowship with the Lord and
keeps our hearts from rising in love for Him. John wrote that we cannot
love the world and love God at the same time. How often we have proven
from experience just how true that is!

Selfish attitudes, besetting sins, and worldly cares keep us from
getting off the ground spiritually. But when we lay them aside, we
experience the uplifting joy of fellowship with the Father. -Martin R.
De Haan II

I want to live above the world,
Though Satan’s
darts at me are hurled;
For faith has caught the joyful sound,
The song of saints on higher ground. -Oatman

IF YOU’RE NOT AS CLOSE TO GOD AS YOU USED TO BE,
GUESS WHO MOVED.

OUR DAILY BREAD, Copyright 1998 by Radio Bible Class,
Grand Rapids,Michigan. Used by permission.