Last night I was meditating on “lay aside” from Hebrews 12:1.  To me, to lay aside something is rather nonchalant and passive.  However, this verse is talking about aggressive action.  Words like cast off, fling away, or throw off.  It is a picture of seizing something and violently throwing it away from  me.

Hebrews 12:1 says that it is the sin that so easily ensnares us.  The Amplified uses the sin that clings to and entangles us.  One day I was walking across the lawn and was just about to put my foot down on the patio sidewalk when a snake appeared.  I high stepped it, but we got entangled for a few moments before we both fled.  It’s a great picture of a stronghold.  It entangles us.  It unexpectedly rises up to impede our walk with the Lord.  We need to do whatever it takes to violently cast it off!