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, as followers of Jesus, the team is open to all people. Come along with me on this team run in Hebrews 12……let’s strengthen ourselves for the journey on the path of life to come.
In the Army, 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. As followers of Jesus, 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, disappointment and to 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.
We set the stage for our future at any point in time by building level paths or choosing to walk uneven paths. Level paths lead to healing, to fulfillment, and make the run easier to navigate. If we aren’t careful, there are times that we are not even aware of the path we are setting before us. This whole thing about paths is about setting a foundation in our life upon which we can run the race of life.
Hebrews 12:13 (TNIV)
“Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.Proverbs 4:26 (TNIV)
26 Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.
Matthew 7:24-27 (TNIV, Jesus is talking here)
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
When we set a poor foundation, we’re disabled. Notice that Jesus says, “everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice”–this is HOW we lay that firm foundation, that even path in our journey called life.
Are you setting an even or uneven path in your life?
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Are you honest at work, with your spouse, in school?
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Do you have a strong work ethic, giving 100% because you work for something greater than any boss or company?
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Do you seek sex as God designed (sex only within marriage) or do seek your own pleasure?
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Do you harbor attitudes of anger, bitterness or unforgiveness?
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THE LIST GOES ON….doesn’t it?
We set a path, paving stone by paving stone every day in our life….if we make “”Make level paths” for our feet…….we will not be disabled in life, but rather, we will find peace and healing.
