As we begin the final chapter of Hebrews, we are reminded of all the ways Jesus identified Himself with us. He became flesh and dwelt among us. (John 1:14) He was tempted in all the ways we are tempted, yet He did not sin. (Hebrews 4:15) Though He committed no sin, He suffered the penalty of sin for our sake. (Isaiah 53:4-5) Considering all He has done for us, it's a small thing to ask that we live lives that honor Him and that we bear bravely the scorn and ridicule that often falls on those who profess His name. If we belong to Him, we should be like Him.
How can we honor our Lord? First of all, we must love each other. "Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters." (Hebrews 13:1) Love is the proof that we belong to Christ, for He said, "Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:34b-35)
We are to demonstrate a generous attitude toward others. "Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it." (Hebrews 13:2) Abraham and Lot are examples of men who entertained strangers only to learn later they were actually angels. Even if we never entertain angels, it's important to treat everyone with the love of Christ. The way we treat them may have a lasting impact on their lives.
We are to minister to those who are suffering. "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." (Hebrews 13:3) In the author's day, many Christians were imprisoned for proclaiming the gospel. There are still places in the world today where professing Christ comes with the danger of imprisonment---or worse. The believers are not to distance themselves from those who are being unjustly treated, but are to visit and encourage them. Jesus said that failing to minister to our fellow man in this way is the same as failing to minister to Him. (Matthew 25:45) In addition, it's not only those who are unjustly imprisoned to whom we are to minister, but also those who have been sentenced appropriately for their misdeeds. Prison ministries have led untold numbers of people to Christ. There are members of my own church who were saved while in prison. Where would these people be today if there had not been believers who cared enough about them to come to the prison and share the gospel of Christ with them?
We honor the Lord not only by how we minister to others, but by how we lead our own lives. Our lives should be a testimony to the transforming power of Christ. Our private lives and our public lives should match up. If someone were to carefully scrutinize us, they should not be able to conclude that we are secretly living in immorality. "Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral." (Hebrews 13:3)
We must not be greedy and covetous. Naturally we want to make a living and provide for our families, but that's not the type of financial goals the author is referring to when he says, "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.' So we say with confidence, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?'" (Hebrews 13:5-6) The author is talking about having an unhealthy love of money, the kind of love the Apostle Paul spoke of when he said to Timothy, "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and have pierced themselves with many griefs." (1 Timothy 6:10) This is an idolatrous interest in wealth. It leads people to compromise their beliefs. They will do things that are in direct opposition to the word of God in order to make more money. Jesus warned us about placing more importance on wealth than on our relationship with the living God, "No one can serve two masters...You cannot serve both God and money." (Matthew 6:24)
Money is not what provides security in life; the Lord is our security. Heaping up riches won't protect us from the troubles that befall everyone else. Wealth won't hold our marriages together, or keep our children from getting on drugs, or prevent us or our loved ones from having health problems. We can't place more value on money (or on anyone or on anything) than we place on the Lord. He is the One who holds all things together. He is our Provider and Protector, which is why the Lord Jesus says, "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness." (Matthew 6:33)
***I will be going out of town to visit my mother-in-law in South Carolina for several days, so we will pick back up with the blog on Tuesday.***
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