Hebrews 12:12-15

Hebrews 12:12-15 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed. Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

Romans 12:9-18 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

The author of Hebrews asks believers to grow up into spiritual maturity: to live each day by faith through God's grace regardless of the circumstances. Mature Christians live disciplined lives, resisting the devil and his works. They are wary of the selfishness of the flesh; therefore, they try to extend the Spirit of God to people rather than their own self-serving spirits. When sad, disheartened, or troubled, they strengthen their feeble arms and weak knees through prayer, praise, and worship. Mature Christians attend to the needs of others, helping the hurting and healing the lame. They make level the paths of life and live in peace with all men, displaying God's kindness to the world. As they live holy and circumspect lives, their godly demeanor and gentle spirits testify of God's goodness, so no one misses the grace of God. They do not harbor bitterness, anger, and hatred in their hearts, knowing those spirits cause trouble and defile many. Every Christian should strive to grow into maturity, to put off the weak and destructive elements of the flesh and to put on the whole armor of God's love towards humanity.

Love must be sincere, without manipulation and gain. As we walk in love, we will do what is good and supportive by honoring and respecting one another regardless of our personal feelings. God gives us the grace to live at peace with everyone. But when we remain weak and immature, we protect our flesh by striking back, hurting, and destroying, leaving our testimony of Christ in us in shambles. The flesh produces discord and distrust in our lives instead of the peace and love of our Lord. We may win battles through carnal means, but in the flesh we will lose the real war against the devil and his works. Spiritually immature actions bring confusion to our unsaved acquaintances when our actions are just like theirs. If our light does not shine, if the salt loses it savor, others will not see Christ in us. Worldly thoughts and actions weaken our testimony and leave us helpless. God intends for us to walk in hope and strength as warriors for the cross, dedicated to fighting the good fight and displaying his goodness and his power to a sinful and dying world. When we are IN CHRIST AND HE IS IN US, we do not remain dependent upon others or the things of this world: we stand tall in the hope of resurrection life and in the knowledge of who we are and what God wants.

As partakers of this breakfast, people who want to grow in faith, I know you desire to live IN CHRIST. Hebrews repeatedly tells us the just, the strong, and the overcomers live by faith. If we are not totally committed to a life of faith, difficult events or problems will defeat us: we will do what we hate, talk in ways we despise, and finally embrace the sinful life we once rejected. If you are struggling today, stand back, repent of this world, and rededicate yourself to following Christ regardless of your current situation. A true soldier of the cross does not leave the battlefield but faces his foes by faith with determination to win. The Bible says God finds no favor with those who quit the battle of life. Faith literally means believing and trusting God in everything. Believers do not rely on our senses or human understanding because we know God is in control, and the victory belongs to those who endure to the end. There is no Promised Land without a battle against the giants in the land. This day, cast off the immature garments of defeat and put on the mature armor of God. He will lift you up, make you strong, and show you that the victory is yours because He has won the fight.