Run Well: Insights From Hebrews 12Sample

“Make level the path for your feet” (Hebrews 12:13, NIV) again comes from Proverbs (the author has just mentioned Proverbs 3:11-12 in verses 5–6). The counsel to the runner is to strengthen his own limbs for his own race.

However, there seems to be an external dimension to the instruction. By running strong and straight, the strengthened runner keeps others from veering off the track.

Many are going through personal exhaustion. Their faith has destabilized, their arms debilitated, and their knees deteriorated. They have damaged feet. On the verge of giving up, they look to you for inspiration and instruction, expecting you to continue your race and help them run.

As we become stronger, we influence others by inspirational example and instructional patterns to stay the course, to reach the finish line. But like the ever-present airline announcement to don our own oxygen masks first, we must become personally and internally well first, and then we can be externally and missionally able to help others.

And we must help others. The world is looking for emergency help to breathe, walk, and run—literally and figuratively. The stronger among the weak find our spiritual oxygen source and supply from Christ. We can now help the weaker among us to run their races—strong and straight.

Much of the book of Hebrews carries community exhortations, with over a dozen “let us” statements. The strong among the weak strengthen themselves for their own race and thereby strengthen the weaker for their races. The inspirational models of the Old Testament and the instructive example of Jesus influence us to strengthen ourselves. That, in turn, will influence the weak to become stronger.