Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

October 23
Saturday



SHARK TONIC

READ:
Hebrews 12:1-11
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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
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Have you ever heard of shark "tonic"? It isn't a serum that prevents shark attacks or a medicine given to sharks. The actual term is "tonic immobility," described as "a natural state of paralysis that animals enter.... Sharks can be placed in a tonic immobility state by turning them upside down. The shark remains in this state of paralysis for an average of 15 minutes before it recovers."


Imagine, a dangerous shark can be made vulnerable simply by turning it upside down. The state of tonic immobility makes the shark incapable of movement.

Sin is like that. Our ability to honor our Lord, for which we are created in Christ, can be put into "tonic immobility" by the power and consequences of sin. To that end, the writer of Hebrews wants us to be proactive. He wrote, "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" (Heb. 12:1).

If we are to run the race of the Christian life effectively, we must deal with sin before it immobilizes us. We need to lay aside the sin that hinders us from pleasing Him__starting today. __Bill Crowder
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````````````````Start early today to run in the race````````````````
```````````````That Christians are told they can win;```````````````
```````````First wait on the Lord for the strength He will give,`````````
`````````````Then lay aside every known sin. __Branon````````````
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We must face up to our sins
before we can put them behind us.

***************Today's Bible Reading __ Hebrews 12:11************

1 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, 2 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 has sat down at
the right hand of the throne
of God.

3 For consider Him who
endured such hostility from
sinners against Himself, lest
you become weary and
discouraged in your souls.

4 You have not yet resisted
to bloodshed, striving
against sin. 5 and you have
forgotten the exhortation
which speaks to you as to
sons: "My son, do not
despise the chastening of
the Lord nor be
discouraged when you are
rebuked by Him; 6 for
whom the LORD loves He
chastens, and scourges
every son whom He
receives."

7 If you endure chastening,
God deals with you as with
sons; for what son is there
whom a father does not
chasten? 8 But if you are
without chastening, of
which all have become
partakers, then you are
illegitimate and not sons.

9 Furthermore, we have had
human fathers who
corrected us, and we paid
them respect. Shall we not
much more readily be in
subjection to the Father of
spirits and live? 10 For they
indeed for a few days
chastened us as seemed best
to them, but He for our
profit, that we may be
partakers of His holiness.

11 Now no chastening seems
to be joyful for the present,
but painful; nevertheless,
afterward it yields the
peaceable fruit of
righteousness to those who
have been trained by it.