Hebrews 12:12-17
12 Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. 14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; 16 lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. 17 For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.
When we receive discipline from our Lord, it should not make us want to give up. Instead of feeling weak and defeated, we should find strength in Him (not ourselves) to fortify our resolve to learn from the adversity and press on in the race for the heavenly prize of greater intimacy with and conformity to Christ. The idea is not to be walking wounded, but healed in spirit and mind through the trials of corrective love of our Father in heaven. This then must affect our relationships with others, for if we love them we love Him and vice versa. We run after peace with others and holiness towards God because He is holy and we are made in His image. Because of God’s grace given to us in Christ we must be circumspect, mindfully focused on things of heaven to avoid bitterness in this process of sanctification. Sin defiles us, as in the example here of Esau who sold his inheritance of position and blessing for his carnal appetites. This unholiness breaks our fellowship with God, and if it becomes a lifestyle, may hinder us permanently. Ah, but we are of those who know the value of our birthright as adopted children of the King, and do not give up what we cannot lose. This should drive us onward to be well-pleasing to our Father as we trust His grace and work in us.
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