“Don’t Get Out of Joint!”

Hebrews 12: 12, 13: “Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather healed.” What is weak, feeble, and lame here – ourselves, or someone else? The context, along with the word ‘therefore,’ indicates these things are a result of divine discipline in our own lives. Remember, the goal of divine discipline is not punishment, but restoration and redirection. So the Lord calls us to strengthen ourselves and set a new direction, so that His discipline for us would have the proper effect. Getting bitter over His discipline just makes us lame, and eventually out of joint. Remember Jacob? (Genesis 32: 24-32)