Following Peace

Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled. (Hebrews 12:12-15)

The writer of Hebrews was speaking to people who had just come through a period of serious correction. God had dealt with them about issues in their lives. Although they felt a bit down (as people do when first corrected), God’s instruction is not meant to keep people down. He says to lift the hands that once hung low, strengthen the knees, and move forward. Get back up and keep moving. Correction from God is not the end of the road. It is realignment.

Then the Scripture explains to follow peace with all men. That includes your relationships, your daily interactions, and how you carry yourself toward people who may not seem to like you. Following peace is not just an inward compass for navigating God's will. It is an outward commitment to staying out of strife, no matter what the people around you are doing. There is another side to the peace principle, and it is just as critical as the first. You can be sensitive to the peace of God on the inside and still allow strife to enter through a relationship, an offense, or a conflict you chose not to resolve. And when strife comes in, it disrupts the very sensitivity you have been building.

Practical Application

When bitterness grows, it will trouble you and defile many others around you. It does not stay contained to the person who carries it. It spreads. It affects your family, your relationships, your ministry, and your witness. You may feel upset with someone else who is already in strife. That is their business before God. You stay out of it. Follow peace. Guard against every root of bitterness so that you can keep the channel between you and God clear enough to hear, to follow, and to walk in everything He has for you.

Isaiah 35:3; Job 4:3