[Songs in the Night - November 15]
Make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way. Hebrews 12:13
WHAT does the apostle mean?
He does not mean
that we should literally shovel a path smooth, nor does
he refer to our literal feet.
All will agree to this.
Evidently the apostle's teaching is that each one of the
Lord's sheep has more or less of earthly blemish (imperfection),
in consequence of which lameness it is difficult
for him to make steady progress in the footsteps
of our Lord.
He urges that as we find out what our
weaknesses are, physical and mental, we should endeavor
to shape our course of life accordingly, so as to
be able to overcome the difficulties of the way and the
besetments of the Adversary.
We make the straight
paths by choosing such a course as will not unnecessarily
aggravate and excite our weaknesses, and thus
make us the more lame.
We are to seek to overcome
the lameness, and to do so, are not only to pray, "Abandon
us not in temptation," but are to seek to avoid the
temptation in all ways.
How do we do this? We
answer, by the exercise of our wills, or determinations—by mental resolutions; or, in other words, by making
vows or solemn promises to the Lord respecting our
determinations to take the proper course.
Anyone,
therefore, who has followed the apostle's injunction in
our text has made vows to the Lord, which he should
be faithful in performing, if he would come off a victor
and have the divine approval. Z'09-75 R4348:2 (Hymn 135)