Follow Peace

“Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.  Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:”  Hebrews 12:12-14

As we live our lives as followers of Christ, what we do and what we say does matter.  It matters to us, it matters to those around us, both believers and unbelievers, and, of course, it matters to Christ for He is the ultimate recipient of our actions whether honorable or debased.  We are not to live as a spectator on the sidelines because we are fearful of getting hurt physically or mentally.  What if the Apostle Paul had allowed fear to keep him from spreading the gospel?  Rather we are to step out in faith and take a firm stand for Christ because that is what we are called to do.  Yes, sometimes we get “weary in well doing” (Galatians 6:9) and get discouraged, falling back on our former reticent behavior and letting our faith become weak and doubting.  Our hands hang down by our sides as if we didn’t have the strength or wherewithal to continue the work that we had previously begun with excitement and anticipation of making a difference for the kingdom of God.  Our knees begin to shake and buckle with fear that we may fail in our endeavors to promote Christ and the gospel or fear adverse reactions from our family and friends.  What if we can’t answer a question about scripture?  What if we get ostracized for our beliefs?  What if we lose some that had once been close friends?  What if we have to suffer persecution by those who disagree with us?

These were some of the situations of which the readers of the Hebrew letter were likely undergoing.  Things have not changed.  These are still questions that we ask ourselves as we attempt to step out in faith.  The writer, in his efforts to encourage those who have become weary in their walk with Christ, though not because of Him, but because of all the external forces hellbent on creating destruction and confusion, quoted from Isaiah 35:3 to give his readers confidence that their situation was not hopeless.  Whatever they were facing at the time was not the end.  There was a better day coming.  If they would begin to think on that, they would find that strength would return to their hands and courage to their feeble knees.  It is all a matter of a determination to endure.  We must keep our eyes on the goal ahead and not be dragged down by the world.

The direction in which we go also matters.  God lays out a path for each of His children to follow.   A good father would not leave his child without a clear path marked out for him or her.  He would not take his child out into the forest and leave him or her to fend for himself or herself.  A father cannot prevent the pitfalls, potholes, and obstacles in a child’s path, but he can teach them how to overcome them so that the child can safely reach his or her destination, goal, or purpose.  Our heavenly Father does the same.  He gives us directions which can help us to avoid the consequences of stumbling over life’s obstacles.  However we must make a concerted effort to follow the straight path not only for our own benefit, but for the benefit of others who come behind us.  Whether we like it or not, there are others, saved and unsaved, who are watching our lives.  They pay particular attention to our responses to the spiritual and physical conflicts that rise before us.  If we do not respond in a godly way, the weak believer is affected by discouragement and distrust, while the  unbeliever is given fuel for further criticism of us and of the gospel.  If we respond in a godly way, though, the weak brother can gain strength in his walk with Christ, increasing in Christian maturity, while the unbeliever perhaps would experience conviction in his heart that he is lacking in his own ability to respond to similar trials in a godly way.  Perhaps our godly response will make him “thirsty” for that which he lacks, which is a relationship with Christ.

The writer of the letter to the Hebrews continued his words of wisdom to his readers by urging them to pursue peace with all men.  He is speaking of not only those folks who are “on the same page” as the believer, for that is relatively easy, at least most of the time, but to consciously strive to remain peaceful in the most trying of circumstances and/or with the most disagreeable people in our sphere of influence.  It takes the grace of God to give us the patience that is sometimes required to keep our cool in the midst of arguments, persecutions, or ridicule.  Remaining calm, peaceful, and Christlike is what God requires of us.  What good does arguing do with other believers about scriptural interpretations or with unbelievers about God’s word.  Even if an unbeliever is fairly acquainted with scripture, without the guidance of the Holy Spirit, he or she cannot effectively argue about what God has written.  Arguments rarely settle a disagreement.  To remain posed and at peace in the heat of the moment is a witness to the power of Christ which lies within the heart of the believer.

Next time:  God’s requirement for holiness in the life of a believer.