Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.

Hebrews 12

Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. Hebrews 12:12-13

I continue my study of Hebrews, and this morning my focus is Hebrews 12:12-17, and and I am assisted in my understanding by the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary Series for Hebrews. The commentary outlines two divisions for this text: 

I. The Charge: Keep Running (12:12-13): The commentary emphasizes how the author of Hebrews uses metaphors of drooping hands, weak knees, and lame feet, etc. to underscore how the Christian life is often one of struggle and we are encouraged to continue to persevere and endure. The author uses language from 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 where the analogy of a race is also used. We are warned about obstacles to our faith - the commentary shares: "If you are going to run a race well, you will need a clear path, and to get a clear path, you will need to remove any obstacles. You don’t want to leave any dangerous spots where you could twist an ankle or trip over a rock....We must arrange our lives so that sin’s opportunities to ensnare us are significantly reduced."

II. The Challenge: Live Holy Lives (12:14-17): The commentary highlights v14 where Christians are to live at peace with everyone - not just the community of believers.  This is important particularly during periods of persecution as beliefs in the church are currently under attack - do not respond harshly. We are also reminded to be holy - recognizing that we are not perfect - and to fight sin. To do so, v15 seeks for believers to watch out for one another and to avoid division in the church. Finally, the commentary for the text wraps by pointing to a negative example - in contrast to the positive examples in chapter 11 (the Hall of Faith) - for believers. Esau traded his birthright for a meal (see full story in Genesis 25, 27).  The commentary describes this action as an irreverent and unthinkable action.  Esau then lost his father's blessing to Jacob.  Although Jacob did so deceptively, it was lost nonetheless and Esau is described in the commentary as showing regret but not repentance. We are referred to 2 Corinthians 7:10 where Paul compares Godly to worldly grief and the commentary describes Esau as displaying the latter. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Jesus, You are an awesome God who has given me great examples of faithfulness so that I can continue running the race of faith to the finish - through scripture, my brothers and sisters in Christ, and of course in Yourself!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You encourage and save me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.”

 Leviticus 5-6

Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” Romans 7:7

This morning, I continued my study of Leviticus using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary for this book - continuing with chapter six - When We Are Guilty - covering Leviticus 5:14-6:7, looking specifically at the theme - God Provides for the Cancellation of Our Guilt.  Here, the commentary is rich with takeaways as it starts with the sub-heading God Requires Realization of Sin. It describes how the phrase "realizes his guilt" appears in Leviticus 6:4 and upon closer inspection we can see this phrase six times, emphasizing how an acknowledgement of sin is critical to our faith. To see the need for Jesus, you must first acknowledge your sin. The commentary digs deeper and writes how such an acknowledgement is not based on a worldly view of right and wrong but instead on God's view alone, and as written in the Bible; and the more we read the Bible, the more we should be drawn to God, because God reveals our sin to us in the Bible - we are pointed to Romans 7:7 as an example. Of course our brothers and sisters in Christ also play a role in "sharpening" us, as does the Holy Spirit. The commentary points us to Martin Luther's writings (see commentary on 3:19) on the role of the Law in helping us see our sin. 

The commentary then pivots to the next sub-heading God Requires Restitution for Sin (as described in v5:16, 6:4) and here it describes how we are to have Godly-grief over sin vs worldly grief (see 2 Corinthians 7:9-10). Such grief leads to true repentance - and changed behavior/lives - which is the restitution God seeks from us over our sin. 

Finally, the commentary writes in the sub-heading God Requires Receiving His Atonement that Jesus death on the cross is what God wants for us - He knew the Old Testament sacrificial system was going to be insufficient for our atonement so He sent His Son.  Isaiah 53:10 prophecies such a plan:

Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. Isaiah 53:10

We must acknowledge our sin as we all sin, are in need of Savior, and Jesus Christ is that Savior.

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who gives atonement for my sin - through Jesus Christ.  Thank You Jesus!  The greatest gift of all time.  Yet I am undeserving of such grace and compassion.  My sin continues every single day.  Please forgive me Jesus.  Help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.