When I was in the Army we assembled almost every morning at 5:30 am for a team run. Rain or shine! We all ran together and we wanted to finish together. As followers of Jesus, the TEAM is our brothers and sisters in Christ. But…even more than that, the team is open to all people. Come along with me on this team run in Hebrews 12……let’s strengthen ourselves for our life to come.
If I fell out of the run, there was someone there to grab my arm and encourage me. We all want to finish together in glory. We are there to encourage each other and build each other up so we can run out into the world and share what God is doing in our lives!
Hebrews 12:12-17 (TNIV)
12 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 13 “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed. 14 Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. 16 See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. 17 Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done.
Being a Christian isn’t easy work, it’s hard work–isn’t it? We need strength to endure hardship and resist the temptations of this world. And we need strength not to fear, to be strong to get through this life! We strengthen ourselves through faith in Jesus. He has the answer……follow Him by putting His words into action!
Hebrews 12:12 (TNIV)
Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.Isaiah 41:10 (TNIV)
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.2 Thessalonians 3:3 (TNIV)
But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.