September 19
“Strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled,” Hebrews 12:12-15.
The readers of the Hebrews’ Letter were allowing themselves to be discouraged by the difficulties and hardships that they had to endure because they confessed the Christian faith. The Hebrews’ author asks his readers not to stand around with their hands helplessly hanging down and with their knees knocking together as if they were suffering from some sort of paralysis.
The author is reminding them of what had been written previously. The Lord was chastening them, disciplining them to strengthen their faith to face whatever might lay in the future. As we journey the road of life, Christians should remember the words of the Lord Jesus, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it,” Matthew 7:13-14. Walk the straight path, the path of the Gospel, trusting and believing in the one and only Savior Jesus Christ, who says, “I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me,” John 14:6.
“Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.” Since the peace of which the author writes is the peace without which no one will see the Lord, it cannot mean just peace in a general sort of way. It must refer to the peace of God which is ours by faith in Christ Jesus, who is called our peace.
The apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesians, “Now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,” Ephesians 2:13-14. Let us proclaim the message of peace and forgiveness for all people. Our faith in the peace of God should keep Christians in close contact with one another. We should not engage in quarreling and arguing over things that are neither here nor there. We should contend for the faith.
Out of love for our Lord who first loved us and out of love for the salvation of souls, we should keep the message of the Gospel of peace foremost in our witnessing for Jesus. The message of the Gospel is the message of God’s love, which promotes peace and avoids bitterness and trouble, which only lead to division and dissension among people. It must be a matter of great concern that “anyone fall short of the grace of God.” Christians do not want to see anyone fall away from the faith in Christ Jesus, the Son of God and the Son of Man, our one and only Savior from sin, death, and the power of the devil.
“O God, Thou faithful God,
Thou Fountain ever flowing,
Who good and perfect gifts
In mercy art bestowing,
Give me a healthy frame,
And may I have within
A conscience free from blame,
A soul unhurt by sin!
If dangers gather round,
Still keep me calm and fearless;
Help me to bear the cross
When life is dark and cheerless;
And let me win my foe
With words and actions kind.
When counsel I would know,
Good counsel let me find.” Amen.