Feeble Arms and Weak Knees

No one likes to be disciplined. I didn’t as a child, and I’m sure you didn’t either. Sometimes it hurt, and sometimes it stopped me from what I wanted. But I knew my parents disciplined me because they wanted me to learn and grow.

That’s what Hebrews 12 says is the reason God disciplines us. It’s to share in His holiness . If we are trained by His discipline, it will produce righteousness and peace.We all need the righteousness, and we all crave the peace.

Verse 7 says that we should endure hardship as discipline from God. But we want out of hardships (and discipline) right away. We don't want to endure; that sounds too long.

One of my favorite scriptures is verse 12. That verse says that we should strengthen our feeble arms and weak knees. This is very telling, and similar to the language that Isaiah used . There is not a lot of mystery here. We need to strengthen our arms because that is what we work with, what we serve others with. We need to strengthen our knees because that is what we use in our relationship with God. Be always praying. Again, it goes back to the two greatest commandments that Jesus gave us.

How do we strengthen these? Like you would your body, building them up by use and exercise. Carry some one else’s burden. Work those bicep muscles with service and love for your neighbor. Our knees should be calloused from use. Many Christians today do not spend enough time in prayer. Ten minutes? Fifteen minutes? Access and communication with our God and Creator should be a priority of our day.

Feeble arms and weak knees. Does this describe me?

Does it describe you?