I was a chunky kid. That was a nice way of saying chubby and I hated it. My metabolism was on 4 but my mouth was on 7. Not obese, just chubby.
I fought this on and off for nearly 50 years. A lot of people call it “baby fat.” Trying to lose those last 10 pounds can be almost impossible. It hangs around. You get sick with the flu and the upside is you don’t eat for a couple of days, then get back on the scale and, “Yeehaaa! I lost those 10 pounds!!” Only to find them return with swift vengeance within a week.
We carry a lot of spiritual baby fat around. Here’s what Hebrews 12:1 says,
“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.”
That’s the NKJV. The Message puts a sharper point on it; “We'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins.”
Baby fat. Those little sins and indulgences that weigh us down like we’re carrying 10 pounds of spiritual potatoes on our midsection.
Anger. Worry. Faithlessness. Prayerlessness. Foolish talk. Gossip. Complaining.
Yessiree, I’m hitting home I know, because my toes are getting stepped on right now!
Imagine if you were finally at the weight you wanted to be, but you had to keep carrying a 15 pound sack of potatoes EVERYWHERE you went! To meeting, to bed, in the shower, on the airplane, in the elevator, at the store. What a burden.
Now imagine after months and months of this, finally being able to throw off that sack! Free at last, free at last, thank God I’m free at last! What a relief that would be.
This is what God wants for us. Physically and spiritually but especially spiritually. Throw off those little nasty sins you indulge in. Start running and never stop!
By-the-way, I told my sons when they returned from their trip back East to the National Home School Alumni Convention, that their Dad would weight no more than 155. I’ve got three pounds of 49 year old baby fat to go. Will I make it? Drop me an email and find out!
2 comments:
Wes for years after MSB (and before) I struggled with the "baby fat" issues; spending daily time with God, reading the scriptures, memorizing scriptures, faithfulness to God etc. I failed!!
I started attending a local church in Livingston, with a faithful pastor who really has as the fabric of his life, Grace embedded in him, it oozzes out of him. I fell less guilt about the baby fat, knowing that it is by faith thru grace that i come before God.
Please comment
Dave
Hi Dave!
It is great to hear from you, lo after these many years! It is true that by grace we come to God. It is equally true that life at MSB was full of performance pressure. Great pressure and we saw several people crack, crash and burn. I was nearly one of them. I almost gave up on my spiritual walk and was ebbing away, but like you, somehow, a little ember of life remained hidden in the corner of the basement in my soul. God was able to fan it into flame a few years after graduation.
It's still a race for me. Still a fight many times. BUt I am not fighting for my salvation. I am God's. I am a Prince of Heaven. That's a settled issue. Not I run to live as a Prince should live and I think that's what Dad wants. He wants to see me free from the sins that so easily entangle me so I can run free, run fast, run well. So I can enjoy the run.
ps Check out the "comments" side of www.biologyfilm.com and leave me your email!
Post a Comment