“Lets just throw off that sin which so easily entangles and run the races as we are surrounded by this multitude of witnesses – so what can hold us back? Just look to Jesus!”
That is the kind of stuff I hear a lot of Christians say. I am not calling it empty, but I will go so far as to say that it is far more challenging than proclaiming it in a mighty utterance. The verse this is paraphrased from is Hebrews 12:1. Now if you read this you will notice that those witnesses it refers to are the key players in the Bible (see Hebrews 11). Those who by, with, and through faith allowed God to do amazing things.
By faith Abraham…..
By faith Moses…..
By faith Joshua…..
By faith David……
Now if you are going to throw off that sin, it does not mean an end to sin, but it does mean you will pursue it no more. This is a fair claim for throwing yourself into the mix with these guys. I had better mean it to the core of my soul that Jesus is my Lord and my God. No Sunday Christian ever did anything with this great claim of encouragement and hope. No Sunday and Thursday Christian even came close. The Only-In-Public Christian also failed this call to devotion and faith.
There are stories that surround us of heroes who with their did what only God could see. Step one: Jesus is my Lord and my God. Step two? There is no step two. Follow step one: in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.
Just throw off the idea that there is more to Christianity than Jesus. Just throw off everything that is not Jesus. It is not impossible; it is not easy either. It is an act of faith in the Most High. It is trust and commitment. These men were nothing special until they dedicated themselves unto the Lord. They have been made into models of faith by God; no human can ever become what they were. Only in dedication to God does Moses become Moses.

~JCPunk