Hebrews 12:12-17
“See To It”
Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears. – Heb. 12:12-17
Hebrews 12 is about running the race God has set before us. That image speaks to us of daily living as a race God has set before us. We are able to enter the race and run well – because of who Jesus is and what He did for us. As our faith is activated, we consider Jesus and continue forward movement toward heaven.
Now reality is – we may become discouraged, or fainthearted or weary. When that happens, we need to hear what this passage says, from God through His written Word and his people: Lift your drooping hands, strengthen those weak knees; strive for peace and holiness; see to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; remove any bitterness and don’t make the mistake Esau made. He was rejected.
I don’t know any Christian who doesn’t need to be warned, encouraged, uplifted and nurtured – to stay in the race, or to get up when you fall. This passage sounds like what a trainer or physical therapist would say to one in training or a patient. You can do it. You must do it. Leave that baggage of bitterness behind and make straight paths for your feet.
If you are in one of those periods of despair and undergoing intense temptation, or just ordinary worldly boredom – I encourage you to read the 11th and 12th chapter of Hebrews – then read again these verses: Heb. 12:12-17.
See to it that you do not fail to obtain the grace of God.
Berksblog 