From Hebrews 13: 1 Let mutual love continue. 2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. 3 Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured. 4 Let marriage be held in honor by all, and let the marriage bed be kept undefiled; for God will judge fornicators and adulterers. 5 Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, "I will never leave you or forsake you." 6 So we can say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?" 7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. 15 Through him, then, let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
The model of our faith never changes. Jesus Christ, as this well known verse, verse 8 states, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Yet, leading up to it are some instructions for our need to change to be like Jesus. The first is the need to love one another; here said in a different way, "Let mutual love continue." Keep in mind the majority of the New Testament was written as a result of the actions of believers who did not love one another. Most of Paul's instructions were a call back to love. Has that changed much? As Jesus taught in Matthew 25, the writer here again stresses the need to show hospitality to strangers. Again, why is it difficult for believers to be nice to everyone, including the ones they don't yet know? The need to visit and pray for those in prison is shared here, and these were usually the prisoners being held for their Christian faith. And it was also said we should remember them as though we were in prison with them. Some of these prisoners were being tortured, the end result desired was for them to renounce their faith in Jesus Christ.
Marriage is stressed as that which is to be held in honor by all, and sexual purity within marriage should be maintained; God's judgment against sexual impurity will be done. Christians are to be free from "the love of money" and greed, the reminder being that God never leaves us nor forsakes us and provides for us. Our respect for our leaders in faith should be that which helps us shape our lives in imitation of their good example; then the verse about Jesus, Jesus has never and will never change. This shares the writer's belief that Jesus' love for us is steadfast. All that Jesus shared through God's Word is the same, and the ultimate model for faithful and fruitful living is Jesus Christ. And through Jesus we should offer a "sacrifice of praise to God," living and sharing and telling of a life blessed and made whole through Jesus. And with this sacrifice should come a life that shows a life that shares and cares. This is what pleases God.
PRAYER: Loving God, may my life reflect all that I have read and learned today. May I seek, through You, to grow closer to being the image of Christ here on the earth. This I pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
