Hebrews 13:1-8
The word keep was mentioned twice, we see that in verses 1 and 5. The idea in Greek is to stay on course, to guard the practices like how the military would guard their own discipline, and to continue doing it. In other words, the counsel of Hebrews 13:1-8, must be a way of life, a custom, daily activities, or habitual practices Christians daily perform.
1. Keep your relationships strong and healthy.
“1Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters.” 2 Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. 3 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. 4 Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.” Hebrews 13:1-4, NIV.
· Love is an action word.
· Motion can result to emotion.
· Strong relationships can help achieve greater things for the Lord.
· Love is the essence of God’s law. Matthew 22:37-40.
Why must we love?
· We mirror God’s image. 1 John 4:16
· We imitate how our God loves. 1 John 3:1.
· Love is a form of discipline. Hebrews 12:6.
· God cost Him His Son, to love us. John 3:16.
2. Continue to trust God’s provisions.
“5 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.” Hebrews 13:5, NIV.
· Discontent is a spiritual disease of the heart that will make your soul yearn for earthly things, instead of the things of God.
· Adrian Rodgers, “Contentment is not getting what you want, but it is wanting what you already have.” [In context: What you have in the Lord].
· Contentment is enjoying what God has provided for you.
· The problem is that we want what the Lord hates to give us.
“4 Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.” Hebrews 13:4.
· Contentment is not the absence of ambition.
· Contentment is aligning our aspirations and dreams with the Lord’s plan and purposes.
· God can alter our plans and move us to another direction. We must trust that the turns He makes, is for our own good. See Romans 8:28-29.
3. Keep your priorities in order.
“7 Remember your leaders, 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.” Hebrews 13:7-8, NIV.
· The early Christian leaders’ priority was Christ.
· Peter preached the gospel in Acts 2, led the Jerusalem church.
· Paul said, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21.
· James served in the early church and wrote his practical epistle for the benefit of the body of Christ.
· Whatever you do, keep Jesus at the center. He must be the reason for your activities.
“31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31, NIV.
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