Keep 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. 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.â€
“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?â€
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. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Hebrews 13:1-8 (NIV)
Lectionary texts: Jeremiah 2:4-13, Psalm 81:1, 10-16, Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16, Luke 14:1, 7-14
The texts for this week are pretty straight forward. Sometimes God just makes a list and says, “Do this. Do that and it will go well with you.†But even when the passage seems obvious, I still have to take it in context with the whole of it and who God is.
God is always looking at the Kingdom. He is thinking about how His children will one day come home to Him and there will be no sorrow or tears (Revelation 21:4). While I do believe that my Heavenly Father is involved in my life now and sees my tears, my joys, my struggles, He keeps me guided to the eternal celebration and the rewards that will come and never end. And God is always using me to bring others home to Him and encourage others to keep their faith wrapped around them.
Jesus came to teach and show us The Way. He did not come to raise up an army against Rome and restore a kingdom here on earth. He came to raise an Army of Warriors who would fight to prevent the enemy from taking hostages and leading the Father’s children astray with a “quick fix†and “instant rewards.†I struggle as Paul did to be content with what I have and trust God for all that I need. I have found in the last ten years that I need much less than I think I do. I have found that I truly have all that I need. I have life with God for all eternity and I am encouraging as many as I can to make the same choice.
Jesus. Faithful and true to His promises and teachings. Yes, I am blessed. Be blessed in Jesus’ name.
Put Your Hand in the Hand written by Gene MacLellan and sung by Ocean (1971)
