Straight Paths Heal Wounds

Straight Paths Heal Wounds

Hebrews 12: ¹² Lift up your tired hands, then, and strengthen your trembling knees! ¹³ Keep walking on straight paths, so that the lame foot may not be disabled, but instead be healed.

 

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After experimenting with “fun” everyone else was having, I noticed my life was not getting any better. In fact, it seemed to be getting worse. I sat on the on my couch and made a decision. “I need to get my life in order” I said to myself.

 

• I felt tired from trying things that were supposed to make me “happy” but found them to be temporary.
• I was trembling from fear of the future, because the “fun” was not addressing any problem I was facing.
• I knew in my heart I needed to do something different.

 

Paul, the assumed writer, begins his final words with some sage advice. “Instead of being tired and scared, why not follow GOD who provides a straight path to HIM and HIS power?” is the implied question in his statement. He knew only GOD can provide the answer.

 

My Observations:

• Only GOD can give me rest when I am weary.
• Only GOD can heal my woundedness when I am hurt.
• Only GOD can provide a straight path instead of the wandering crooked path I easily get on.

 

True success comes from GOD. I mean, HE holds the criteria for what a peaceful life looks like. Unfortunately, I try things that cause me to lose that peace. I seek the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. These things take me away from GOD. BUT GOD brings me back.

 

With gentle correction and wiping my tears away, GOD shows me how much HE cares for me and heals me of life’s wounds. HE provides a path that is straight. I gladly follow HIS way.

 

Challenge

• What is the “straight path” the writer is speaking about?
• Have you ever wandered away from what GOD wants you to do and found yourself in more trouble?
• Will you seek the answers from GOD instead of investing in what the world will have you do today?

Purpose Filled

Purpose Filled

Acts 9 ¹⁷ And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” ¹⁸ Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.

¹⁹ So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.

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“Why do you want me to take notes in the meetings?” I inquired. “So people can get to know you” was the honest reply. I was being groomed to take on more responsibilities. I understood the purpose of the menial task.

• There have been many times when I questioned the purpose of what I was doing.
• There have been many times when I did not embrace the purpose of something until I understood it.
• There have been many times when I made decisions with the wrong purpose and wound up with a mess.

JESUS sent Ananias to Saul. Ananias obeyed and fulfilled his purpose by laying hands on Saul. GOD used this action to heal Saul, showing him that HIS followers were meant to serve other  humans, not harm them.

• GOD wants my life to be filled with HIS purpose.
• GOD wants me to go out and reach many people with HIS great news about JESUS.
• GOD wants me to make spreading HIS gospel my purpose and let HIM do amazing things.

Power only comes from GOD. HE is the one who heals people, though it may look like a human did it. GOD gives, each person who follows HIM, purpose. HE fills me with HIS HOLY SPIRIT and I become purpose filled. I am grateful GOD cares enough about me and others to include me in HIS plans.

• Are you seeking purpose in your life?
• Are you susceptible to the lies humans tell that draw you away from the saving power of JESUS?
• Will you surrender your life to JESUS so you can be given purpose that is filled with love and is everlasting?

Healed

Luke 4: ³⁸ Now He arose from the synagogue and entered Simon’s house. But Simon’s wife’s mother was sick with a high fever, and they made request of Him concerning her. ³⁹ So He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. And immediately she arose and served them.

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“GOD I won’t do that again!” I said clutching my chest. The pain was so intense; I thought I was going to die. I figured I had been hanging out, sinning too much and maybe it was GOD’s way of punishing me. Days later, when the pain went away, The thought of hanging with my “friends” came back to mind. I mean church people were so boring to hang around.

• There were times when I did not believe in supernatural healing.
• There were times when I questioned “If GOD exists, then why are people sick?”
• There were times when I lived my life doing anything “I” wanted to do without a thought of what GOD wanted me to do.

Everyone in the house of Simon (Peter) asked JESUS to do something about Simon’s mother-in-law. They had just heard some amazing words from JESUS calling HIMSELF GOD and they believe HIM. JESUS told the fever to go away and she was instantly healed. She got up and served JESUS.

• JESUS wants to heal me when I am sick.
• JESUS wants me to remember that HE is the one who heals.
• JESUS wants me to serve HIM when I do get healed.

Why get healed just to turn around and be the same lackluster person? If I am expecting supernatural healing, then I must also expect supernatural purpose in my life. GOD keeps me alive for some reason and that reason is HIS. Whether I am sick or well, GOD has a purpose for my life.

• Are you sick?
• Do you need supernatural healing?
• Will you stop living for yourself and start living for GOD so HE will heal your SPIRIT first?

Protected Responses

Mark 9: ⁴² “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea. ⁴³ If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched— ⁴⁴ where

‘Their worm does not die
And the fire is not quenched.’

⁴⁵ And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched— ⁴⁶ where

‘Their worm does not die,
And the fire is not quenched.’

⁴⁷ And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire— ⁴⁸ where

‘Their worm does not die
And the fire is not quenched.’

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As a sign of bravery and strength I was instructed to punch the cement wall harder than the guy next to me. Judging was totally subjective as far as who “won.” Being the frail guy I was I punched the wall with a soft touch. “I’m not breaking my hand!” I said to myself.

• Many times I preserved myself.
• Many times I protected myself from harm.
• Many times I made sure I was safe.

JESUS shocks the disciples with a strict message of warning. HE warns them against causing others to fall into sin. The warning is extreme saying it would be better to maim yourself than to cause someone to sin because of lack of control.

• GOD wants me to control myself enough to keep others from falling into my sin.
• GOD wants me to refrain from hurting people and turn to helping them instead.
• GOD wants me to put a leash on my carnal urges long enough to encourage and grow people.

JESUS knew I would try to protect myself when HE said these statements. HE wanted to get down to the core of my wretched, rotten sin by saying it would be better to lose a hand or a foot or an eye than to drag others into my sinful world. But what does HE want me to do? HE wants me to pray for others, encouraging them to follow HIM.

• Are you trying to drag people into your sin?
• Can you stop for a moment and figure out a way to encourage that person?
• Will you turn from your sin today so you can help others do the same?