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?

Them Too

Mark 11: ²⁵ “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. ²⁶ But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”

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One guy pushed all my papers off of my desk. Another punched me in the chest so hard, I saw stars. One lady wanted to put a stupid label on myself so she would be more popular. This other person said “I’m going to wipe that smile off of your face” while I worked for him.

• There have been many people who have done some mean things to me.
• There have been some people who have low down things to me.
• There have been people who have slandered me, hit me, and hurt me physically and emotionally.

Asking GOD for whatever I wanted comes with a price. I can literally tell a mountain to move and ask GOD to do it and it will be done but first I must do something. I must forgive.

• JESUS says to me “I want you to pray to ME and ask me anything.”
• JESUS says to me “During your prayer, I want you to forgive those who hurt you.”
• JESUS says to me “When you practice forgiveness, your HEAVENLY FATHER will do the same for you.”

You mean I have to forgive “them too?” Yes! Asking JESUS to get me out of a jam gets nullified when I harbor hatred in my heart. Even bullies who call themselves CHRIST followers who seem to get their way at every turn will have to answer to GOD one day. GOD does not want me to be one of those bullies.

GOD wants me to be the person who is strong enough to recognize maleficent actions towards me and take the time to forgive them. It may take hours or days or sometimes years for me to truly get the poison out of my heart, BUT GOD can replace the poison with love. GOD wants me to forgive “them too.”

• Do you have hatred in your heart?
• Has someone hurt you on purpose and it is difficult to forgive them?
• Can you stop giving that person power over you and forgive them just as GOD has forgiven you?

You Are Welcome

Matthew 10: ⁴⁰ “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. ⁴¹ Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. ⁴² And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”

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Listening for the misplaced word or being skeptical was my skill when I attended church. I did not need to know the Bible because I could smell a phony a mile away. “That person is going to talk about money” and many times I was correct. “This place is a sham” I thought to myself.

• I have criticized preachers, teachers and disciples of GOD.
• I have attended church with cynicism.
• I have passed up the homeless thinking “They are just going to use the cash for alcohol or drugs.”

Protecting myself from the dangers of “sneaky people” took me to a place where I could not let my guards down. I was so focused on defending myself that I could not hear what GOD was saying through many people. BUT GOD wanted my heart to change.

• GOD wanted me to open my hurt heart to listen to HIS message through other hurt people.
• GOD wanted me to accept my role of serving others without judging their motive.
• GOD wanted me to give what I have, even if it is only a cup of water in service to HIM.

My heart of stone had to change. It had become cynical, mistrusting and certainly unbelieving. I could not see GOD’s miracles on a daily basis and I wondered where HE was. GOD opened up my heart to trust HIM versus trusting people. HE wants me to listen for HIM instead of listening for mistakes.

Even people with hidden agendas can speak a truth about GOD, so HE wants me to listen intently for HIS words. GOD wants me to welcome HIM by welcoming HIS people HE sends me.

• Are you being critical?
• Do you listen with hurt untrusting ears?
• Are you skeptical of those around you?
• Can you give your hurt to GOD and allow HIM to open your heart to welcome people in instead of pushing them out?