Hebrews 12:12-17 – Persevere to reach our goal

Having shown why believers should endure the Lord’s discipline, this passage now exhorted believers not to be faint hearted but to persist in the faith journey, which is referred to as a race. Here, we are given specific actions to take to stay in the race.

Firstly, in verse 12, believers are told to strengthen their hands to work effectively and their legs to walk steadily, so as not to stumble. Secondly, believers must exercise corporate strengthening of each other in the race. The statement, “make straight path for your feet …” in verse 13, suggests that each one should level their path so that their progress would not be impeded. Also with the path leveled, the weaker brethren among the fellowship would not be tripped. Their weaker feet would not be dislocated or put out of joint. These weaker brethren here were also described as the lame. The level path would also allow the feet of the lame to be healed and to recover to complete the race. In essence, this verse is calling on believers to consider their fellow believers, particularly those who are slower. This is a call to corporate responsibility. Thirdly, verse 14 is calling on believers to pursue after peace and holiness. These are important virtues that would require effort on the part of every believer. Their pursuits should be two-fold: peace with all men and practical purity.  

From verse 15 right through to verse 17, there are three warnings for us. In the first part of verse 15, the author was warning believers against living life without grace. Grace is a divine attitude of compassion and generosity that God shows towards His people. Grace has always and will always be available for the believers’ journey with God. Here in verse 15, the warning to believers not to live a life without depending on the Grace of God. In talking about the root of bitterness in verse 15, the author is warning against apostasy. He made reference to Deuteronomy 29:18 where the bitter root was the apostasy of the children of Israel. In that passage, God was warning His people against backsliding and allowing one’s root to be bitter and defiled. Using Esau’s life as an illustration, the author warns believers to guard against two dangerous appetites: sexual and physical. Esau exhibited both of these in his life. By marrying the Canaanite women, he demonstrated that he could not harness his sensual appetite. Furthermore, he was too fixated on earthly desires: the fun, food and female. Esau showed no regard for God, so the author said he was godless. He even sold his precious b birthright for food. When he realized his wrong, he could no longer undo what was done although he regretted it. Ultimately, he could not finish what he was supposed to complete. From Esau’s experiences, the author of Hebrews warned his readers against being sexually immoral and godless.  

Let’s persevere in our journey with Christ but be careful how we do it. Let us allow God to strengthen us through His Spirit and the grace we have obtained through Calvary. By His power we can live for His glory!