“Therefore, …let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and…run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross…” (Hebrews 12:1-2). Lula and I recently attended the annual retreat for LCMS missionaries in Eurasia. Our keynote speaker was Rev. Dr. Reed Lessing of Concordia University St. Paul, who gave a most encouraging seminar on “Overcoming Life’s Sorrows, providing relevant lessons gleaned from the Old Testament books of Jeremiah and Lamentations“. Another highlight of our get-together was an inspiring homily given by fellow missionary Rev. David (pictured) who preached on the Bible passage cited above. “Don’t be like the turtle!” he exhorted us, a creature only able to walk slowly and awkwardly because it is weighed down by its heavy shell. If we allow ourselves to be constantly burdened by all of our regrets, worries, and even forgiven sins, he noted, we are in danger of becoming like spiritual turtles. Indeed, all of us have burdens to carry. Some have been placed on us by the sins of others, some by forces that we cannot control, and some burdens we have even placed upon ourselves by our own foolish and/or sinful actions. But, in contrast to the turtle, our sins, regrets, and worries are not permanently affixed to our back. The writer of Hebrews encourages us to cast off our heavy and encumbering shell by fixing our eyes on the Perfecter of our faith. Because, not only did Jesus purchase for us salvation and eternal life, but He also lifted all of our burdens off our backs, taking them upon Himself. Thank you for reminding us, Pastor David, that Jesus did this not grudgingly but even joyfully, transforming us weighted-down turtles into liberated lambs of God! We are thus free to continue our Christian walk *unburdened* by the old weight of our sins, fears, and regrets!
The Tiews in Germany 