Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: 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; Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears. Hebrews 12:13-17
When we consider the early Hebrew Christians, we know that they underwent great persecution from both their Jewish Brethren as well as the Roman Soldiers. They were cautioned by the writer many times to keep their focus on God’s Grace. They were reminded of Jesus who endured unjustly so much more. When the soldiers came to arrest Him, He commanded His apostles to lay aside their swords. Once again in these scriptures, the writer is reminding them that they are to make straight paths, seeking holiness; lest bitterness spring up within them and they lose their way. Bitterness, anger and hostility will destroy them as a people and as a nation from the inside. When we lose sight of the bigger picture, which is our position with Christ; then, we are blind to see the truth though it is right in front of our own eyes.
These were being persecuted on every side; yet, the writer urges them to follow peace with all men and to seek holiness. He goes on in Hebrews 13:1-3 (NIV)
Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.
They were urged to lift each other up with love and in kindness to transform others.