Selfless faith
by Libby Krahling
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed (Hebrews 12:12,13).
Read Hebrews 12:12–29
I remember watching the London marathon a while ago. A runner was within sight of the finish line but completely exhausted. His legs were giving out on him, his hands were dangling and it seemed like he would collapse at any moment. He was the definition of ‘drooping hands’ and ‘weak knees’. Another athlete saw his distress, and stopped and helped the exhausted man to the finish line. It was a truly inspiring moment of compassion.
Through this week’s readings, we have been encouraged to ‘run with perseverance the race that is set before us’ (Hebrews 12:1b), despite the trials we will face along the way.
The encouragement in today’s focus text to ‘therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees and make straight paths for your feet so that what is lame may not be put out of joint’ adds to the imagery of the athlete in an endurance race. On our run to the finish, we want to avoid obstacles in our path, prevent injury to others or ourselves, and not get lost along the way.
Lane ropes help swimmers stay in their lanes, and roads are cleared for marathon runners so that they don’t stumble or go off course. God’s law is there to guide us and protect us from what is dangerous. It helps us to stay on track, and to honour God by following his commands. We do this not in fear and trembling, afraid of the certain death we deserve as sinners entering the presence of God, but with joy and thanksgiving because we know we will be welcomed home, thanks to Jesus’ work on the cross.
The way we run our race affects the people we encounter, so we are encouraged in this passage to live lives that draw people to God rather than letting bitterness and division create stumbling blocks. Sometimes we are the ones with drooping hands and weak knees, needing encouragement and support to complete the race. Sometimes we are called to be the supporter.
Compassionate Christ, you have had mercy on us. Help us to stay true to your path, and to support others when they stumble on the way. Amen.
Libby Krahling and her husband Phil are members of St Petri Lutheran Church, Nuriootpa, in South Australia. They have two adult sons. Libby runs the Worship Planning Page, organises the Daily Devotions, and this year is currently working on the Worship and Devotional Life in Lutheran Schools and Early Childhood Services project for Lutheran Education Australia. In her spare time, Libby loves to cook, read and paint.
- Click here to read previous devotions.
- We are also posting them on LCA Facebook, making it easy for you to share them with family and friends.
- Sign up to receive Daily Devotion in your inbox every morning. If you’re already doing that, please encourage others to sign up. Click here for the link.
