LEST ANY FAIL

• Messages sorted by:[ date ][ thread ][ subject ][ author ]

                           LEST ANY MAN FAIL

Hebrews 12:15 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; 

The writer of the letter to the Hebrews gave instructions which will help ANY
people to avoid having weaker ones, and even the stronger ones, in a Christian
group become discouraged and falter in their walk with the Lord.

The Greek word which is translated "lest" here is also translated "lacketh" in
II Peter 1:9 (Listen to it)   But he that LACKETH these things is blind, and
cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
Peter had just finished the famous "add to" passage, where the desired
Christian traits are enumerated.

The word "fail" comes from the thought of falling short of a desired trait, or
failing to lay hold of a provision which has been made available for us.

>From reading the two verses prior to verse 15, we get the impression that we
are in this effort together, and that we should watch for the Spiritual
welfare of each one in the group-- not just our own welfare.  Listen to them:

Hebrews 12:13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame
be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. 

Hebrews 12:14 Follow peace with all [men], and holiness, without which no man
shall see the Lord: 

The picture, as I see it, is that when we allow disharmony among members, or
get careless about our own dedication to God and His purposes (holiness), we
open the gates for Spiritual weakness and diseases to make inroads into the
Christian Community.

A friend of mine, many years ago, told me that the best thing he could do for
me was to be strictly obedient to God himself.  At the time, I didn't seem to
grasp the import of the statement, but it has taken on a new meaning lately.

Peter Walter spoke one night about a group of defenders in the time of the
Macabees who were able to go undefeated in battle as long as they could
maintain a corporate attitude of repentance and strict surrender to the
principles of God.  When they could not, to the man, maintain that attitude of
repentance, they suffered defeat.

It DOES matter to the group whether we walk in an upright manner or not.

It DOES matter whether we walk in harmony or not.
 
<A HREF="http://members.aol.com/fretwell/private/index.html">CHRISTIAN
INSIGHTS</A>