Marking the Path

"Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong." Hebrews 12:13

Each life influences so many others.

Though both my mother and father have departed this earth, I am constantly fed by the bread crumbs they left along life's path, pointing me to God and His truth, His son, Jesus, and His great love for all of creation.  

I am never hungry.

It is not for ourselves alone that the author of Hebrews admonishes us to mark out a straight path for our feet.  It is also for those the believer is charged to feed.  It is for the sheep.  The follower of Jesus must take the task seriously, for as we wander, we lead many to wander astray with us.

But how do we effectively mark out this straight path for our feet?  

The author of Hebrews tells us this, as well.  Hebrews 12:2-4 tells us, "We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin" (NLT).

This chapter goes on to tell us that if we fail to keep our eyes on Jesus, He lovingly disciplines us in order to help keep us on track in following Him (Hebrews 12:5-6).  What amazing love in this discipline!  Hebrews goes on to tell us some of the biggest stumbling blocks to marking out this path of faith for our feet:  bitterness, immorality, and godlessness.  

Hebrews 12:15-16 warns us to be careful, stating, "Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal" (NLT).

I've found that there are so many saints to encourage us.  They marked well the path and continue to light our way.  Some of them are mentioned in Hebrews 11.  Speaking of these saints, Hebrews 11:40 states, "For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us" (NLT).  While I cannot fully comprehend the beauty of this verse here and now, it excites me because God can be trusted.  He is faithful and true and has proven to be so every second in every day of my life and yours.

Mark well the path, Runners, for those running now and all who will come after.

Goodnight.