Keys of Truth: Hebrews (Chapter 13)

Chapter summary:
The Book of Hebrews concludes with a series of exhortations to the readers concerning how to live the life of faith. Believers are to keep on loving (13:1-5a), and trusting God (vv. 5b-6). Believers are to continue responding to their leaders (vv. 7-8), and the whole community is admonished to keep on praising God (vv. 9-16). After two more exhortations, one concerning leaders (v. 17) and the other prayer (vv. 18-19), the book concludes with a powerful doxology (vv. 20-21) and brief greetings (vv. 22-25).

The believer’s personal application: Faith results in a lifetime of dedicated living for Christ.

INSIGHT
“Brotherly love” (13:1):
Believers are called to "live a life of love" (Eph. 5:2). Christ's "new commandment" is to "love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another" (John 13:34). A number of passages describe that lifestyle, and the call to love brothers and sisters in Christ is repeated in every epistle (cf. Rom. 12:9-10; 1 Cor. 13; 2 Cor. 8:24; Gal. 5:13-14; Eph. 5:2, etc.). Here the writer calls Christian love "brotherly," for all Christians are members of God's family. If we extend family love to each other, we will experience unity (Phil. 2:2; Col. 2:2) and be compelled to share material and spiritual resources with others (1 John 3:16-18).

“Angels unaware” (13:2):
Some visitors entertained by the Old Testament saints were angels (cf. Gen. 18:1-5; 19:1-2).

“Identify with the oppressed” (13:3):
It's one thing to welcome strangers. It's another to go out and look for those who need help. Prisoners were especially needy, for they often had to supply their own food, and many feared being identified with those condemned by the government. Christian brotherly love moved believers to identify with prisoners and try to meet their needs.

“A pure marriage bed” (13:4-5):
Many in 1st-century society considered chastity irrelevant to morals. The Christian community established a high standard, denying believers sexual expression outside of marriage. Within marriage, mutual commitment kept sexuality within God's intended boundaries, and therefore sexual expression was, and is pure.

“Real security” (13:5):
The bottom line isn't how much we have in the bank. The bottom line is that God is committed to us and will never leave or forsake us. That’s real security!

“Example” (13:7):
Leaders are to model a life of faith, which believers can consider and emulate. Throughout the New Testament, teaching and example are linked together. Both right doctrine (orthodoxy-right belief) and right living (orthopraxy) are required in those who lead the Church of God.

“Our altar” (13:10):
Our altar is the cross, our sacrifice Christ, and the blood on that altar is that of the Son of God. The writer makes it clear Judaism and Christianity are not interchangeable. The Jewish believers he addresses have figuratively gone outside the walls of Jerusalem, having left the older faith behind.

"Obey your leaders and submit" (13:17):
The original language (Greek) makes it clear that this is not blind obedience, or a surrender of one's personal responsibility to obey Christ as Lord. We can catch the sense of the Greek in this paraphrase: "Remain responsive to those God has given you as guides and let yourself be persuaded by them." This is appropriate, for leaders, commissioned to watch over us, and must give an account to God. Those who prove by their exemplary life, and sound teaching to be worthy of respect, most certainly deserve it.

A Gift for the One Who Has Everything! (YBS Lesson)

Let's admit it. Sometimes it's hard to love God. Maybe it's not so much that it's hard, but we wonder if it matters. We want to love God, but it's a little similar to shopping for someone who has everything. How can our contribution of love make any difference to God? Does He even notice?
Actually, it might be easier than we think.

One of the best questions to ask when gift shopping for someone who has everything is simply, "What does this person love to do?" The answer to that question can provide gobs of options ranging from things to gift certificates. When looking for ways to love God, we can ask the same question: What does God love to do? Fortunately, He's told us.

The What
In the passages below, look for things that God does for us:

But some people did accept him. They believed in him. To them he gave the right to become children of God. They did not become his children in the human way. They were not born because of the desire or wish of some man. They were born of God. The Word became a man and lived among us. We saw his glory—the glory that belongs to the only Son of the Father. The Word was full of grace and truth. (John 1:12-14)

God makes people right with himself through their faith in Jesus Christ. This is true for all who believe in Christ, because all are the same. All people have sinned and are not good enough for God's glory. People are made right with God by his grace, which is a free gift. They are made right with God by being made free from sin through Jesus Christ. (Romans 3:22-24)

God is strong and can help you not to fall. He can bring you before his glory without any wrong in you and give you great joy. He is the only God. He is the One who saves us. To him be glory, greatness, power, and authority through Jesus Christ our Lord for all time past, now, and forever. Amen. (Jude 1:24-25)

The So What
If you've ever wanted to get to know God better, now's your chance. Every action of God you found in these verses are things He loves to do; make a list. After you've made the list, spend some time praying over each action. Ask God to prompt you as to how to respond to each thing God loves to do.

Wrapping It Up
So here's the big question: What can you do that allows God to do what He loves to do? Your answer to this question will help you know how to love God. Write down at least two of your own ideas or thoughts before you read the closing paragraph:


1)



2)



Closing
So, here's one sure-fire way to show your love to God: Let Him love you. Let Him do what He loves to do: to adopt you as His child, to clean you by His grace, to present you without fault before His glorious presence. Accept what He does: He cleans us, He redeems us—He takes our baggage and our mistakes and makes something beautiful with them.
Yes, loving God is easier than we think. Just let Him do what He loves to do: love you!