Hebrews 13
{13:1} Let brotherly love continue.
{13:2} Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
{13:3} Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; [and] them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.
{13:4} Marriage [is] honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
{13:5} [Let your] conversation [be] without covetousness; [and be] content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
{13:6} So that we may boldly say, The Lord [is] my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
{13:7} Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of [their] conversation.
{13:8} Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
{13:9} Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For [it is] a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
{13:10} We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.
{13:11} For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.
{13:12} Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
{13:13} Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
{13:14} For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
{13:15} By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of [our] lips giving thanks to his name.
{13:16} But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
{13:17} Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that [is] unprofitable for you.
{13:18} Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.
{13:19} But I beseech [you] the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.
{13:20} Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting
covenant
{13:21} Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom [be] glory for ever and ever. Amen.
{13:22} And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.
{13:23} Know ye that [our] brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.
{13:24} Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.
Brotherly love.
Entertain strangers.
Remember them in bonds.
Without covetousness.
Be content.
Never leave nor forsake us.
The Lord is our helper.
Not fear what man shall do.
Remember those who know more, who have spoken the word of God.
Follow faith.
Listen to what they say.
Don't be carried away with strange doctrines.
Hearts established with grace.
Go with Jesus.
We seek a city to come.
Offer praise to God continually.
Give thanks to His name.
Do good.
Communicate.
Forget not.
Obey them that rule over you.
Submit yourself.
Pray.
Have a good conscience.
Live honestly.
God of peace, the great shepherd, blood of the everlasting covenant.
Made perfect in every good work.
Do His will.
Through Jesus.
Suffer the word of exhortation.
If you think as Christians we are to do nothing...read the Bible.
Study the word of God.
The word of God is filled with exhortations for us as followers of Christ to do things.
People get frustrated because the why do live as Jesus would have them live and yet they do none of the things He tells them they should do, why is that?
We need our hearts established with grace.
We need to offer praise to God continually.
We need to give thanks to God.
Live honestly.
We need the God of peace in our lives.
We need to do His will- not ours.
Yes, it may mean suffering but if it does we know this- 'For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come'.
May God be with us, in our lives now and forever and ever.
If our lives seem empty we can fill them with the things Jesus would have us to do. Things we are exhorted to do.
Because we are saved by the grace and mercy, the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior we can live for Him. We mustn't forget the living for Him part once we are saved and continually seek forgiveness from our Savior. Our lives have to be wrapped up in His. We need to know Him and He needs to know us.
By the will of our Lord now and forever.
Amen.
2/18/10
Heb 13:2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
Do we forget to entertain strangers? How many of us would even consider such a thing, seriously? Strangers? We are taught to be wary of strangers. We are taught to think the worst of them. Be on our guard where strangers are concerned.
Isn't is true that we are all strangers to each other? I read in a place of business once a sign that said, 'There are no strangers here just friends who haven't met.' I really liked that saying. It holds the spirit of what God means when we are told not to be forgetful to entertain strangers. No one is a stranger really, we are all just human beings in this huge world of ours and we all share a common bond by having life alone. When we meet a fellow human being we aren't familar with, yes, they are a stranger to us and if we treat them with respect and the love of Jesus Christ we are doing all we can do. Not every stranger will end up a friend regardless of what that saying I like says. Opening our hearts with kindness to those we don't know is all Jesus asks of us. The fact that we might be entertaining angels unaware is just another blessing given us.
Instead of turning a wary eye upon the strangers we meet in our life we need to turn a loving heart upon them, the love of Christ who asks us to trust in Him for all things and that includes being safe when a stranger does enter our lives. No, it doesn't mean all strangers are good and it doesn't mean that we won't be hurt by a stranger, but it means we trust in God that all things will work together for good for us because we love Him. We don't have to understand, we just have to embrace the love of Christ and love God first and our fellow man second. The commandment isn't to love God and love our family and friends, the commandment is to love God and love our fellow man, our neighbors and our neighbors are any and all we meet in our lives.
May God bless us with His pure love for human kind, may we embrace any and all opportunities to entertain strangers in our lives and by that may we offer them any comfort we can, even if it's a kind word or a simple smile. By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior, now and forever. In Christ's love.
Amen.
2/18/11