Make Straight Paths

Take the Stumbling Block Away

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In Romans 14 Paul says not to put “a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way” (Romans 14:13). Other parts of the Bible show how God Himself clears the way for His people.

Build a road. Through Isaiah, God said, “Heap it up! Heap it up! Prepare the way, Take the stumbling block out of the way of My people” (Isaiah 57:14).

A road home. In Isaiah’s day, God was calling His humble people back to Him. He wanted the road cleared so nothing would stop them from coming.

What a stumbling block is. A stumbling block is anything in the road that makes someone trip and fall.

God wants His people near. God does not leave rocks in the road for His children. He clears the way.

The biggest stumbling block. Our sin stood between us and God like a huge rock. We could not move it.

Jesus cleared the way. Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose again (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Now everyone who trusts Him can come to God.

Love and light. John wrote, “He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him” (1 John 2:10).

Abides. To abide means to stay. People who love stay in the light, where they can see the road.

Walking in the dark. “But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going” (1 John 2:11). Hate is like walking with your eyes covered.

Hate trips people. A person full of hate cannot see clearly. He trips himself, and he often trips others too.

Love clears the road. When you love your brothers and sisters in Christ, you help keep the path clear for them.

Rocks people leave. Teasing, unkind words and showing off can all be rocks in someone else’s road.

Rocks people move. A kind word, an apology, or patience with someone younger can move a rock out of the way.

Following Jesus. He moved the biggest rock for us. When we clear smaller rocks for others, we are following Him.

Grown-ups help clear the road. If something or someone is putting you in danger, telling a parent or a trusted grown-up helps clear the path. Asking for help when you are not safe is always right.

What to do. Ask God to show you any rock you are leaving in a friend’s way, like teasing, unkind words or showing off. Then move it.

Romans 14:13 warns against putting “a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.” The prophets and the apostle John show the God who clears the road.

Mikhshol (Isaiah 57:14). “And one shall say, ‘Heap it up! Heap it up! Prepare the way, Take the stumbling block out of the way of My people.’” “Stumbling block” is mikhshol (say: mikh-SHOLE), anything that makes the foot catch and the traveler fall.

A road for returning. The verse comes where God calls His humble people back to Himself. The road is God’s command; He wants nothing to stand between His people and Him.

Heap it up. To heap up a road is to build it high and level, like a raised highway. God prepares a way that people can walk.

The first obstacle. The greatest obstacle between God and people is sin. No human road crew can remove it.

The cleared way. Christ died on the cross for our sins and rose again (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Through faith in Him the road to God is open.

1 John 2:9. “He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now.” Claiming the light is not the same as walking in it.

1 John 2:10. “He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.” Love keeps a person from becoming a trap, for himself and for others.

1 John 2:11. “But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.” Hatred blinds.

The prophet and the apostle. Isaiah pictures a road built for God’s people to come to Him; John pictures people walking that road together in the light. God clears the way, and love keeps it clear.

Light already shining. John says “the true light is already shining” (1 John 2:8). Love does not wait for a feeling; it walks in the light Christ has already given.

Your own path. Hatred, grudges and contempt make a believer stumble first; then they spill into the path of others.

Bringing it into the light. Clearing the way sometimes means bringing a problem into the light. If anyone is harming you or others, tell a parent or another trusted adult.

Application. Think of one habit that could trip a younger believer, such as mocking, gossip or showing off, and remove it this week.

Strengthen the Feeble Knees

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Paul says, “We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak” (Romans 15:1). The letter to the Hebrews gives a picture of what that looks like.

Tired hands and knees. “Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees” (Hebrews 12:12). Feeble means weak and shaky.

Like hikers. Picture people walking up a long mountain trail. Some are tired. Their arms hang down, and their knees shake.

Straight paths. “And make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed” (12:13). Lame means hurt so that walking is hard.

Why a smooth path helps. A hiker with a hurt ankle does better on a smooth path than on a rocky one. The smooth path gives the ankle time to heal.

Your path matters. The way you live is part of the path others walk. When you live God’s way, you make it easier for weaker believers to keep going.

Pursue peace. “Pursue peace with all people” (12:14). To pursue means to go after something with all your strength.

Paul’s example. Paul told the church leaders from Ephesus, “you must support the weak” (Acts 20:35). Paul worked hard so he could help others.

Jesus’ words. Paul reminded them of “the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’” (Acts 20:35).

Blessed to give. Helping a weaker friend is not a loss. Jesus said the giver is the one who is blessed.

Ways to help. You can walk with a new kid to class, help a younger child find a Bible verse, or stay close to someone who is sad.

Strength is for sharing. If you know your Bible well, you can help a younger child learn. If you feel brave, you can stand next to someone who is scared.

Not for showing off. Helping is not a way to look important. It is a way to love like Jesus.

Let others help you. Sometimes you will be the tired one. It is good to let others help you, and to tell a trusted grown-up when something is wrong.

Jesus helps the weak. We were all weak in sin. Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose again, and He gives strength to everyone who trusts Him.

What to do. Think of one person who seems tired or left out. Ask God to help you strengthen them this week.

Romans 15:1 says, “We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak.” Hebrews 12 and Acts 20 show what that strength is for.

Hebrews 12:12. “Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees.” The readers were tired and tempted to quit the race of faith.

Orthos (12:13). “And make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.” “Straight” is orthos (say: or-THOS), level and upright. It is the root of the word orthodontist, a doctor who straightens teeth.

The lame in the line. A path is shared. When the stronger walkers level the road, the injured walker can heal instead of being hurt worse.

Strength used for others. Spiritual strength is not a trophy; it is a tool for helping those who are struggling.

Hebrews 12:14. “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.” Peace and holiness are the life of those Christ has made His own; He makes them holy, and they go after holiness.

Acts 20:35. “I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak.” Paul worked with his own hands so he could provide for others.

The words of Jesus. Paul adds, “And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Jesus Himself taught that the giver is the one who is blessed.

An old picture. The call to strengthen weak hands and feeble knees is not new. God said the same through Isaiah long before. God’s people have always been called to lift each other up.

Receiving help too. Every strong believer was once weak and will be weak again. Letting others help you is part of the same love.

Support. To support the weak means to take hold of them and help them along, like grabbing the arm of someone about to slip.

The Strong One. Christ is the One who supported the weak most fully. He died on the cross for our sins and rose again, and through faith He holds us up.

Application. Choose one way to level the path this week: patience with a younger sibling, help with schoolwork, or a kind word to someone ready to quit.

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