Get rid of it

Mark 10:49-50 “And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, be of good comfort, rise; he calls thee. And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.”

We see another example of someone leaving something behind so they could receive something. Bart was blind, and he heard that Jesus was walking by, so he began to shout out in faith to Jesus. The crowd told him to be quiet. Most people would have piped down because we all want to be in line with the crowd, go with the flow, but not Bart. He cried all the louder. He wasn’t just yelling. His shout was a shout of faith, and it caused the Lord to stand still.

Then the crowd changed their tune and became so helpful and encouraging. Crowds can be so wishy-washy. Bart did something that is so key to running your race and even receiving from the Lord; and that is there has to be a letting go of the past and even your past identity.

In that day, those who had permission to beg wore a special garment. That garment gave them the right to beg, so before Bart went to Jesus to get his healing, he cast away his begging cloak. Why is this so important? He was acting in faith; faith has corresponding actions. By leaving the garment behind, he was saying he would no longer need it, that the cloak would no longer be necessary in his life.

He didn’t tell someone to hold his garment in case he didn’t get healed. No. He let it go. He threw it away. This is talking about healing, but it is the same pattern for following the Lord concerning your course and your destiny. If you hold on to your past, your past identity, the lies of the devil, how you identify yourself, and many other things, it will hinder you from finishing your course.

You have to see yourself letting go, and that could mean physically letting go of some things in order to follow God’s plan for your life. Bart let go of a cloak. What do you have to let go of? What do you have to discard in order to fully follow the Lord and finish your course with joy?

Bart received his sight. What will you receive? You will receive the plan of God; and when you obey it, you will hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant; enter into the joy of the Lord.”

The key is to cast aside anything that is hindering you. Lay it down, let it go, count it like it is dung. What we are to let go of is different in everyone’s life. What do you need to lay down?