"...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, looking unto Jesus..." - Hebrews 12: 1-2
Weight:
Anything that could slow us, hinder us, stop us to run the race should be laid aside. For Jesus, it was His glory, His power, being God that He laid aside to run His race.
Philippians 2:6-8 says this, "(Jesus) being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant..."
Race:
We all have a track to run. This is NOT a competition to run faster, but to run with endurance that we will finish the race. Jesus had to carry the cross, all our sins, punishments to finish the race. But this is NOT a weight and He had to carry in order to finish the race.
We cannot look at others around to see what they carry and what not. We cannot look at the pace others run. We are called to run our own race carrying our own cross to finish the race. Some are called to run a marathon, and some are called to run a sprint.
Looking unto Jesus:
There could be so many distractions as we run, but it's important that we keep our eyes on Jesus, follow His voice, walking/running on His footprint.
It's a narrow road that leads to life. It is difficult to lay aside the weight, which could be our own strength, comfort, pride, possessions. It is difficult to put on what would help us to run, it's like the shoes, gloves, helmet, padded clothes... it all depends on what we are called to run, our own cross, which is not a weight, but something needed to run and finish the race.
When we look unto Jesus and walk with him, it is possible as in Matthew 19:24-26 says "...With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible..."
What is the race that we are on? What is the weight that we are ought to lay aside? Where is the focus as we march on the race?