V12 starts out with "therefore".
MacArthur sums it up so well.....
on the basis of all the sound doctrine, on the basis of the fact that you oughta get in the race and run, and you shouldn't quit, but run with endurance; on the basis of the fact that all the trouble you have is only the disciplining hand of a loving Father; on the basis that everything in your life is being done under the control of God to bring about the best for you, he says, "Here's three things I want out of you: continuance, diligence, and vigilance." Those three.
Our passage, v12 & 13, deals with continuance.
When a runner gets tired, their arms begin to drop and their knees begin to wobble.
Isaiah 35:3 says Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way;
Why? Because Messiah is going to come and there`s victory ahead. So, don`t give up - continue on the race!
In the NASB translation it says Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble
"the" not "your" which implies that we are to encourage each other, lift each other up. When your friend is weak, you help him. When you are weak, he helps you. Lift each other up!
Make level paths for your feet
Run in your own lane, run a straight race. Don`t be distracted by the world. Others are following in your footsteps. You`re leaving a path behind you, a track for those coming after you to follow. Run the race well!
so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.
That could refer to a weaker Christian - whom you will cause to stumble if you ran poorly. But it may also refer to those who haven`t yet made the decision to come to Christ all the way - and this may just cause them to pack it up and turn away.
The biggest stumbling block in Christianity is Christians so many times. Turned out of the way. That's an interesting thing. That's a medical turn...term, ektreko. It means to be put out of joint. I mean he's already limping. Don't permanently dislocate him. That's what it says. He's already lame, don't permanently put him out of joint...by failing to give him testimony that he needs to see. That's a very vivid picture, beloved. It says, as we live as Christians, true Christians, we should run so straight, so upright that the halting, lame, limping, watching individual may see a clear, straight path, and be encouraged to follow and come to Christ himself. If you wobble around, if your arms are drooping, if you peter out in the middle of the race, if you start getting mad at God, if you start getting ticked off because you've got some troubles, and you start losing your testimony, somebody who's watching is gonna make that a convenient excuse to throw Christianity out...But God doesn't want that. What does He want in verse 13? "But let it rather be...what?...healed." Yeah, I don't want that lame one permanently dislocated. I want that lame one permanently what? Healed. That's what God wants...
Continue, my friend, not only run like Paul did that you may obtain the prize, but run because somebody else is watching who may be on the knife edge of a decision for Christ; and what you do in your life may be just that thing which brings him to Jesus Christ, or it may be that excuse which they use to turn around and walk away. That's serious.
Tomorrow's scripture focus: Hebrews 12:14-17
Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage passage: Numbers 26-27
In the NASB translation it says Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble
"the" not "your" which implies that we are to encourage each other, lift each other up. When your friend is weak, you help him. When you are weak, he helps you. Lift each other up!
Make level paths for your feet
Run in your own lane, run a straight race. Don`t be distracted by the world. Others are following in your footsteps. You`re leaving a path behind you, a track for those coming after you to follow. Run the race well!
so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.
That could refer to a weaker Christian - whom you will cause to stumble if you ran poorly. But it may also refer to those who haven`t yet made the decision to come to Christ all the way - and this may just cause them to pack it up and turn away.
The biggest stumbling block in Christianity is Christians so many times. Turned out of the way. That's an interesting thing. That's a medical turn...term, ektreko. It means to be put out of joint. I mean he's already limping. Don't permanently dislocate him. That's what it says. He's already lame, don't permanently put him out of joint...by failing to give him testimony that he needs to see. That's a very vivid picture, beloved. It says, as we live as Christians, true Christians, we should run so straight, so upright that the halting, lame, limping, watching individual may see a clear, straight path, and be encouraged to follow and come to Christ himself. If you wobble around, if your arms are drooping, if you peter out in the middle of the race, if you start getting mad at God, if you start getting ticked off because you've got some troubles, and you start losing your testimony, somebody who's watching is gonna make that a convenient excuse to throw Christianity out...But God doesn't want that. What does He want in verse 13? "But let it rather be...what?...healed." Yeah, I don't want that lame one permanently dislocated. I want that lame one permanently what? Healed. That's what God wants...
Continue, my friend, not only run like Paul did that you may obtain the prize, but run because somebody else is watching who may be on the knife edge of a decision for Christ; and what you do in your life may be just that thing which brings him to Jesus Christ, or it may be that excuse which they use to turn around and walk away. That's serious.
Tomorrow's scripture focus: Hebrews 12:14-17
1 comment:
Whew, that is serious. Makes me nervous.
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