Daily Devotional

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Jan 22 2008

Hebrews 13:1 “Let mutual love continue.”

This begins a series of exhortations of what it means to be Christians. It begins with brotherly love and concern for each other. You don’t give up on people. Don’t lose contact with people. Maintain the relationships of love. Second, “don’t neglect to show hospitality to strangers.” You have to let new folks break into your circles of affection. Third, “remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them.” In other words, we cannot turn the blind eye or the deaf ear. We have to fight against the tendency to “not want to get involved.” Don’t turn inward! Christians are people of compassion always concerned with the well-being of others. We identify with the pain others have to go through in life. Fourth, “let marriage be held in honor by all, and let the marriage bed be kept undefiled.” And listen - this injunction is accompanied by a warning: “for God will judge fornicators and adulterers.” There is no question that sexual expression is a big deal with God; it is important for the survival of family and society. It is a key mark of Christianity! Fifth, “keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have.” And this injunction is accompanied by a promise of reassurance: “for He has said, ‘I will never leave you or forsake you!’” Sixth, “remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.” Further, in regards to leaders in vs. 17, it says: “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls and will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with sighing - for that would be harmful to you!” There is no question of the importance of stable leadership for all of us. Seventh, “do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings; for it is well for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by regulations…” And just prior to this, there is the reminder that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever!” Eighth, “do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God!” Christians are generous, giving and sharing people. And ninth, Hebrews makes this request: “Pray for us; we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things.” Christians will be persecuted and criticized. Christians need to have a clear conscience. We must seek to act honorably in all things!

Father, may we remember that Your agape love has to be carried out in very real ways in our lives as we seek to not only love You but to love one another…indeed by loving our neighbors in sacrificial ways as we would love ourselves.