Today's Journal
STRAIGHTEN UP
A good part of the Hebrews letter is encouragement to the people who were living in difficult times of persecution. Chapter twelve starts with, “let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2).Another supportive statement comes as Paul basically asked them to Straighten Up. “Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed” (Hebrews 12:12-13). Many of us know that the most difficult time to Straighten Up is when we are bent over with troubles. But one good reason to Straighten Up is in the first line of verse 13: “make straight paths for your feet.” Straight means to go without wobbling from side to side…meaning here to stop going between Judaism and Christianity, or church and synagogue, or faith and unbelief.
The reason this is so important is the next term: paths, or make straight paths. ‘It literally is, "wheel tracks." Let your walk be so firm and so unanimous in the right direction that a plain track and "highway" may be thereby established for those who accompany and follow you, to perceive and walk in.’ We need to leave a clear path for others to follow.
This is a reference to Isaiah 35:3,4,8: “strengthen those who have tired hands, and encourage those who have weak knees. Say to those with fearful hearts, “B e strong, and do not fear, for your God is coming to destroy your enemies. He is coming to save you.” And a great road will go through that once deserted land. It will be named the Highway of Holiness. Evil-minded people will never travel on it. It will be only for those who walk in God’s ways; fools will never walk there.”
Straighten Up.
“God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.” Jesus