His given name was Joseph Louis Barrow. Better known as Joe Louis, he held the heavyweight championship title from 1937 to 1949, established a reputation for honesty and hard work and successfully defended his title 25 times.
Jesus issued a heavyweight warning almost 2,000 years ago. Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life. (Luke 21:34)
His followers needed to watch for his return. It remains a necessary warning for me because of my tendency to lose focus or get weighed down when something doesn’t happen quickly enough.
In the world of life, the heavy weights of carelessness, addiction and anxiety keep us from winning the battle for holiness. Whatever has my focus has me, and lack of godly focus always leads down a path of disappointment and spiritual frustration.
When the weight of life’s ups and downs gets too heavy, it’s easy to adopt addictions as crutches to help us make it through. But they never deliver the promised fix. They’re only temporary solutions to deeper issues.
Anxiety is a heavy weight too, often leading to physical and emotional challenges. A better avenue is presenting our concerns to God and letting Him give His incomprehensible peace.
Christ will come. Prudent waiting entails avoiding focus stealing heavy weights that hinder our journey toward godly living.
Reflection: With God’s help, cast off any weights hindering your holy living.
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It is so important to be careful with our hearts isn't it?
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