"Monday- Lay Your Burdens At The Foot Of The Cross!"

Lay your burdens down at the foot of the cross.

Did you know that ships have a line drawn along the hull to indicate their burden? If the line goes too far beneath the water, the sailors know there is too much cargo on board. This allows the sailor to take the necessary steps to avoid disaster. Wouldn't it be great if we had indicators on us? In Acts 27, Paul, now a prisoner was taken by ship to Rome where he and the ship's crew encounter a mighty storm. In danger of shipwreck, the ship's crew threw overboard the cargo they once had considered necessities. Timing and events can really change the way we look at things. We fill our lives with 'tackle' and 'rigging' that is not important to the eternal plan. Often, we get distracted by those things and cling to them rather than to God. We think... "Oh, I need this" or "I just can't live without that", but soon, overburdened, we hit a storm and sink.

Hebrews 12:1 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us." NLT

What's in your cargo hold? Are you carrying bitterness? Is there someone you need to forgive? Is your ship laden with shame? Are you hauling around guilt or sin? In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus said "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."