Discipline: Get Stronger

“Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.” (Hebrews 12:12-13)

Hopefully, one big idea has jumped out to you from Hebrews 12 this week: Following Jesus is hard work. We’re in a tough race following the path of Jesus, the same path that lead him to the cross and to the resurrection after it. To run, to take each next step of belief and obedience and praise, involves trusting God. Our Father is so convinced that this is the best possible path for our lives – and he loves us so much – that he’ll use pain in our lives to get us back on track when we slow down and wander off in a worthless direction.

trail_350Instead of fighting it, verse 12 says, “Hit the gym. Get stronger. Build up those arms; work out those legs. The path gets steeper from here; you need more power.” Verse 13 says, “And don’t just be stronger, play smarter. Pick your steps on the path wisely; keep your head in the game.”

Are you in this thing to win? Or are you like I was with JV basketball – happy to be on the team and sit on the bench, but not all that interested in getting good enough to play a whole bunch? Your Father won’t let you stay on the sidelines for long. Suit up. Focus. And let’s start running after Jesus together.

Think: On a scale from 1 to 10, how would you rate your commitment to the race of following Jesus by trusting God with your whole life every day?

Pray: Ask God to help you not be satisfied with sitting on the sidelines and just getting by in your relationship with him. Ask him to make you hungry to compete in this race at the highest level.

Do: Pick an area of your life that you can make stronger for the race – relationships, study of the Word, prayer – then figure out a way to do something about it.