Hebrews Chapter 13    (ESV)

 

Sacrifices Pleasing to God

¹ Let brotherly love continue. ² Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.³ Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. ⁴ Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. ⁵ Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” ⁶ So we can confidently say,

“The Lord is my helper;
    I will not fear;
what can man do to me?”

⁷ Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. ⁸ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. ⁹ Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. ¹⁰ We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. ¹¹ For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp.¹² So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. ¹³ Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured.¹⁴ For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.¹⁵ Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. ¹⁶ Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

¹⁷ Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

 

Reflection

1. How do we find contentment when everything in our society shouts at us, luring us to desire more? Just remember that in God you already possess everything.
2. The stock market can fall, and you will lose everything. Thieves can break in and your possessions will disappear. The economy can crash and interest rates rise. In this world there simply is no security in wealth, or the things that money can buy. But when God is with you, and when you have His promise, “I will never leave you”, you enjoy the ultimate security. There is nothing that can threaten you when you walk hand in hand with the Lord.
3. Take several minutes to explore your life in light of this instruction “Keep your lifefree from love of money” (v5). How do you relate to material things? Do you often wish you had more? What would it be like to “be content with what you have” (v5)? Talk with Him about this subject. Attentively listen for his input.
4. “God, help me keep my life free from the love of money and be content with what I have. You have said, ‘I will never leave you, nor will I forsake you.’” Pause to notice your internal reaction to what you’re saying. Ask God to change your reluctance and unwillingness.

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer. Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me. Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the “Spiritual Journal” book.