Everything That Hinders

Everything That Hinders
Words of Faith 4-15-26
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2026
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Hebrews 12
[1] Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders...

I had a close friend in High School who was a champion cross-country runner. The interesting thing was that he ran barefoot. At the beginning of every race, he would kick off his shoes and run barefoot! No one could get him to wear shoes, not even the coach. The pads of his feet were like shoe leather, and he wouldn't wear anything that would hinder his run. But no one argued with him much, since he was a state champion.

The principle is as old as competitive sports. Cast off what hinders you. Did you know that runners in the ancient world actually ran naked? No fancy running suits or shoes in Greece or Rome. Ancient runners knew that the slightest hindrance could make the difference in the race. Today, competitive runners wear only the minimum clothing needed to enhance their performance in the race. The principle is the same: throw off every hindrance.

In our Christian race of faith, we often think only of the obvious sins that would cause us to fall. In reality, many things are not sin but are a hindrance. Jesus sent out the seventy two missionaries without a purse, bag, or sandals (Luke 10:4). Sometimes "things" are a hindrance. The stuff in our lives can get in the way of our walk with God and our readiness to respond.

There are many things that could hinder us. Debt is a hindrance. It ties us down so that we cannot respond to God quickly. Busyness is a hindrance. The over obligation of a busy life can get in the way of our hearing what God wants us to do at a particular time. We often overcommit ourselves to activities that have little to do with the Gospel. There are even some relationships that can hinder us in running the race, not marriage and family; these are always a priority. But some relationships pull us down, making our run more like a swim through molasses. Certainly, there are habits that can get in the way— the habits that aren't necessarily sin except that they really hinder us from hearing and following the Lord.

Paul wrote to the Believers at Corinth, "Everything is permissible"  but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"  but not everything is constructive (1 Cor. 10:23). There are some things in our lives that are not sin, but they sure weigh us down.

Not one of us would dream of running a 10K race in an overcoat, or wearing a pair of swimming flippers, or carrying a heavy crate of tools. And yet, in our race of faith, we often carry with us things that hinder. We sometimes carry prejudices, emotional or theological baggage, pride, or just our set way of doing things. The hindrances will probably be a little different for each one of us.

So, are you running in an overcoat? Flopping in flippers? Dragging any crates? Throw off everything that hinders.

Lord, I want to run swiftly and in freedom the race that You set before me. Help me to identify and cast off anything that hinders. In Jesus' name, Amen.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2026
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2026 Jeffrey D. Hoy.