Pursuing Peace and Holiness

"Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. ¹² Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, ¹³ and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed."

Hebrews 12:11-13

The writer of Hebrews told readers they had forgotten the chastening of the LORD demonstrates His love as the good Father of adopted believers.  When God chastens and rebukes us it stings, but God always has a profitable purpose for all He allows us to endure.  While we do not rejoice over the pain, we ought to rejoice over God's love and how His correction and training produces the peaceable fruit of righteousness down the track.  A healthy child is born after intense labour pains, and praise the LORD He who redeems our temporary pains to produce the enduring and peaceable fruit of righteousness.

In light of God's chastening, our response is to be strengthened in faith according to the knowledge of God's goodness and care.  Hands that hang down ought to re-grip the plough Jesus spoke of, and put weight on those feeble knees as we look to Jesus to sustain us every step to progress.  The word "paths" literally means "wagon tracks."  The imagery is fitting in context of walking in Gospel truth.  Jeremiah 6:16 reads, "Thus says the LORD: "Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk in it.'"  Since Jesus identified Himself as the One who gives rest for our souls (Matthew 11:28-30), our righteousness is found in Him by faith.

When a wagon or car passes the same way in a field, over time a track is formed that can be followed by others.  "Follow the trail," we say to hikers unfamiliar with an area because the trail made by others provides safety and guidance to a predictable and desirable end.  Hebrews 12:14-15 continues with clear markers along this path:  "Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: ¹⁵ looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled..."  As members of the Body of Christ, walking in peace with others, holiness, and in the grace of God promotes healing rather than being dislocated.  The pursuit of peace, holiness and God's grace is a routine of holiness which we ought to embrace to improve our spiritual health and grow in maturity.

Believers often view miraculous healing as something we only receive by faith without physical effort, and this passage appears to contradict that simplistic view.  While Jesus physically healed all who came to Him during His ministry on earth, their bodies went on to see corruption:  they experienced injuries, illness and ultimately the death of their bodies.  If we will be well, if we will promote the healing process having been made complete and whole in Christ, God holds us accountable to respond to His chastening with repentance and humble obedience.  We are to sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon us.  It is one thing to be disciplined by your sin and the consequences, and even more concerning to be scourged by God before whom all tremble.

When we seek to make peace our pursuit, holiness our habit and the righteousness our route by faith in Christ, this is a godly daily routine that promotes spiritual health and vitality which bears good fruit.  Praise the LORD He works in us both to will and do His good pleasure according to the riches of His grace.  We could never earn such love and care from our great God and Saviour who leads us every step of the way.