Be Healed and Strengthen Your Brothers

The body of Christ has many members (Rom 12:4; 1 Cor 12:12). Each member is a living stone by himself (1 Pet 2:4–5). He or she is being sanctified by the Word of God being employed by the Spirit of God (Jn 17:17; 1 Pet 1:2). Together, in the Spirit, we are being built up into the Temple of the Lord (Eph 2:20–22). This is no easy task. It requires a Master builder (Heb 3:4; 11:10) — Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who promised to build His church (Mt 16:18), the house of God (Heb 3:2–6).

In a human body, there are many members. There is the head; the hands; the feet; the knees; etc. The writer of Hebrews employs this body imagery (Heb 12:12–13); and he couples it with the metaphor of a race requiring endurance (Heb 12:1–3). This race, demanding perseverance, is analogous to the Christian life. From the time of conversion, a Christian is troubled on every side and within himself.

Jesus promised His disciples that in the world they would have trouble (Jn 16:33). Men and devils are at enmity with God (Rom 1:30); and when the elect are justified and reconciled to God (Rom 5:9–10), they must then endure the hostility of sinners, as did Jesus (Jn 15:18–25; Heb 12:3). The devil inspires his children to bring persecutions to the children of God (Mt 5:10–12; Jn 8:44; 1 Jn 3:10). As we follow in the footsteps of Jesus (1 Pet 2:21), we join in the sufferings of Christ and His church (Col 1:24; 1 Pet 1:11; 4:13), the Israel of God (Is 49; Gal 6:16).

Bad company corrupts good morals (1 Cor 15:33); and the corruptions of the world tempt the saints to fall away (Heb 2:1–4; 6:4–6; 2 Pet 1:4), to shrink back onto the course of this world (Eph 2:2; Heb 10:38–39), which is the wide way leading to destruction (Mt 7:13). The sin nature within the Christian does not help (Eph 2:3). The lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life are ever enticing the faithful to be faithless, to love the world and all that is in it (1 Jn 2:16).

The allure of the pleasures of sin are complemented by the afflictions imposed by evil men for not joining their vanities (Rom 1:32). Ungodly men, performing ungodly deeds, done in an ungodly way, serve as examples of those whose punishment is eternal fire (Jude 1:15). Speaking arrogantly, they entice others to abandon holiness and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord (Heb 12:14).

When body parts malfunction, the runner cannot run. The fighter cannot fight. It is sin that weakens us and causes us to come up lame. In this, Christians must be healed (Heb 12:13). It is the work of Christ, the divine Healer, to “fix” us (Ex 15:26; Jer 17:14; Acts 4:10; 9:34). He heals us from the damages of sin, so that we will not grow weary and lose heart (Heb 12:3); nor will we grow weary in doing good (2 Thess 3:13).

Sinners are judged and punished for their evil deeds of lawless rebellion against God (Rom 1:18; 1 Tim 5:24). Sons of God are dealt with in a different manner and with a different motive than the sons of disobedience, being children of wrath (Eph 2:2–3). God disciplines His children from a heart of love for them (Heb 12:4–11). His end goal for His beloved is holiness (Heb 12:10) that they might be blameless before Him in righteousness on the Day of Christ Jesus (Dt 18:13; Eph 1:4; Col 1:22).

The grace of God is the work of God for the benefit of His beloved. We are made strong in the day of battle (Heb 11:34), for the battle belongs to the Lord (Prv 12:14; 1 Sam 17:47), who is mighty to deliver us from our opponents and from our own feeble state. When we are weak, He is strong (2 Cor 12:10). When we are faithless, He is faithful (2 Tim 2:13). His love endures forever (1 Kgs 10:9), which means He will see us through to the end because His love never fails (1 Cor 13:8).

With that blessed hope and assurance, Christians expend themselves for the benefit of those are weak among us (Rom 15:1; Heb 12:12–13). Just as we cast all our cares on Him because He cares for us (1 Pet 5:7), so He sends Spirit-filled ministers of healing, helps, exhortation, and encouragement. We do not tear down those who have been entangled in sin; but we labor to restore them to spiritual health (Gal 6:1).

One of the best ways to help our brethren is to make our own way straight on the path of Christ (Jn 14:6; Heb 12:12), who is the way of peace with God to those who are starting the race (Rom 5:1). He Himself is our peace during the entirety of the race (Eph 2:14). As we follow Christ, we invite others to journey with us (1 Cor 1:11). Christ is our enduring example of perseverance to follow (Heb 12:3; 1 Tim 1:16; 1 Pet 2:21). Those who have matured into closer conformity to His likeness serve to bear witness of Him and His gracious working in both hearts and minds (Acts 1:8; Rom 6:5; 8:29).

If you are reading this, there is no malady that sin has inflicted, with debilitating consequences, that Jesus cannot rectify in those He loves, forever. It is imperative for us to believe this about Him, who binds up the broken-hearted (Ps 147:3). He has begun this good work in each born again member of His body (Phil 1:6; 1 Pet 1:3); and through sanctification (Rom 15:16; 1 Thess 4:3; 5:23; 2 Thess 2:13; 1 Pet 1:2), which is His gracious work to make us holy as He is holy (1 Pet 1:15–16), He will bring it to completion.

Let us therefore remember the faithful work of our faithful God in the lives of those comprising His heavenly assembly (Heb 12:23), who serve as a great cloud of witnesses (Heb 12:1) — that He will accomplish what concerns us (Ps 57:2; 138:8). Those faithful ones who have gone before us all fought the good fight of faith. They all finished the race; and though they are dead, they still speak to us by the story of their lives of manifested faith (Heb 11:4).

Also, let us press on toward the goal of our high calling (Phil 3:14), the heavenly calling (Heb 3:1), to serve the living God and to dwell with Him for eternity in the new heavens and the new earth (Heb 9:14; Rev 21–22), where righteousness dwells and sin is no more (2 Pet 3:13). If you have recently been sidelined with an injury from sin, then be healed by remembering these things revealed to us on the pages of Scripture.

Repent of your sins (Acts 17:30). Believe again as you did at first; and put on Christ as your unencumbered clothing for the rest of the race (Gal 3:27). Stay focused on Him who will soon welcome you into the winners’ circle (Mt 25:21, 23; Heb 12:2), for He has overcome the world and secured the victory over all of God’s opponents. Lest we forget…we are on His team, by His choice.

David Norczyk

Spokane Valley, Washington

May 28, 2024

Hebrews 12:12–13