Hebrews 13:7-19

Various Exhortations

Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. 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. We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. 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. So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

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.

Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things.  I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order that I may be restored to you the sooner. – Heb. 13:7-19, ESV

There is a pattern in many of the New Testament epistles of instruction coming first, then application. Doctrine before duty, since the former leads to the later. So, in Romans and here in Hebrews – a variety of exhortations are collected together near the end of the letter.

Here there are a few I want to specify in our brief time. (1) Remember those who have taught you and led you to good spiritual outcomes. Elders who have taught you the Word of God. And (2) consider the outcome of their way of life. This is what we mean when we speak of legacy. People who are devoted to teaching and influencing the next generation in good ways. Young people need to be open to that and grateful for those people.

(3) A prohibition: “Do not be led away by diverse and strange doctrines.” Now, these are all connected. When you let good people lead you to the Word of God and you are encouraged by their example, it is less likely you will be deceived by false teachers. But never let your guard down. “Do not be led away.”

Through Jesus, “let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God.” These are things to be done earnestly and honorably and with clear conscience.

This is from

Working the Angles: The Shape of Pastoral Integrity:

Trigonometry for Pastoral Work by

Eugene H. Peterson

(Note – Theologically, I’m not in the same family as Mr. Peterson. He is, however, an extremely creative writer. And here – while the length of the sentence defies class-room composition standards – he makes a vital point for husbands … and preachers.)

Many people much prefer reading over listening. It is less demanding emotionally and can be arranged to suit personal convenience.

The stereotype is the husband buried in the morning newspaper at breakfast, preferring to read a news agency report of the latest scandal in a European government, the scores of yesterday’s athletic contests, and the opinions of a couple of columnists whom he will never meet rather than listen to the voice of the person who has just shared his bed, poured his coffee, and fried his eggs, even though listening to that live voice promises love and hope, emotional depth and intellectual exploration far in excess of what he can gather informationally from The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Christian Science Monitor put together. In the voice of this living person he has access to a colorful history, an incredibly complex emotional system, and never-before-heard combinations of words that can surprise, startle, move, gladden, or anger him – any of which would seem to be more attractive to an alive human being than getting some information, none or little of which will make any impact on the living of that day. Reading does not, as such, increase our capacity to listen. In some cases it interferes with it.

Preachers & Stress

Warren E. Berkley

The preachers who weather the storms…

1. Are the ones who read, study and pray for their own spiritual welfare (2 Tim. 2:6).

2. Are the men who do not just react, but think, consult and anticipate (1 Pet. 1:13; 3:10; Jas. 1:19).

3. Are surrounded by mature friends (Eccl. 4:9,10).

4. Are those who keep the family fire burning (1 Pet. 3:7, Eph. 6:1-4; 1 Tim. 5:8).

5. Are those who develop and maintain clear, biblical perspectives (Matt. 6:6).

“So, brethren, watch over your own heart. Keep out sinful passions and worldly inclinations. Keep up the life of faith and love. Be much at home with God. Let it be your daily, serious business to study your own heart, to subdue corruptions, and to live dependent on God. If not, then all your work that you constantly attend to will go amiss, and you will starve your hearers. If you only have an artificial fervency, then you cannot expect attendant blessings. Above all, be much in secret prayer and meditation,” Leland Ryken.

Feb. 27-29 – Free Kindle Book

The Eyes of The Beholder?

Last week I was watching the morning news report on CBS. There was a story about a private school dismissing two teachers who (against the morality clause they signed), made public their plans to marry a same-sex partner. The teachers were planning to sue the school, and students were staging for a massive protest and walk-out.

(Reference: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kennedy-catholic-high-school-protests-washington-allegedly-firing-teachers-for-being-gay/).

News anchors today just cannot resist adding their opinion after a report concludes. Tony Dokoupil tagged the story with his snippy remark: “Morality is definitely in the eyes of the beholder.”

This is part of the humanistic noise of our time. To locate morality in man rather than man’s Maker.

The denial of absolute truth saturates the market-place of ideas in our time. And there are so many problems with that perspective. Here are a few.

(1) Will we tell our children that morality is in their eyes? When little Johnny steals something from the convenience store, will we tell him and the judge that it didn’t violate his (flexible but convenient) “standard” of morality?

(2) If an armed robber breaks into your home and walks away with your property, how much comfort is there for you when he says, “this is right for me?”

It may be argued these are extreme examples. Here is what is extreme: Adolf Hitler did what was right in his eyes. Terrorists do what is right in their eyes. There are sorry consequences to be faced when subjective, relativistic morality is embraced, celebrated and promoted. What is convenient, personally expedient, pragmatic and gratifying for those so inclined creates a trail of victims. “Morality” is invented, revised and adapted without any acknowledgment of the Creator.

In other words, everyone does what is right in his own eyes (see Judges 17:6 and Prov. 21:2).

One of the most important gifts given to us by God to confront isolation is friendship. Friends are a vital part of an emotionally healthy life. Friendships nourish our souls as nothing else can. The Godhead is steeped in relationship. Friends are an earthly, visible reflection of the relationship between God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. We desperately need friends.
SOURCE: Survive or Thrive: 6 Relationships Every Pastor Needs (PastorServe Series) by Jimmy Dodd

Revenge is never sweet. It is an inherently unhealthy habit forbidden by God in 1 Thess. 5:15 and other passages. We all know that. But let’s elaborate on the the history of revenge.

Revenge has never

…produced authentic justice

…healed anyone

…promoted righteousness

…converted a sinner

…glorified God

…built a church

…made a marriage better

…raised a child

…earned an honest living

…or sent anyone to heaven

Ralph Waldo Emerson was right: “For every minute you are angry, you lose sixty seconds of happiness.”

Hebrews 13:1-6

Continue Doing Right

Let brotherly love continue.  Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.  Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.  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.”  So we can confidently say,

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

No matter what kind of pressure you are under – ordinary temptation, intrusive persecution, emotional pressure from family, or false teaching – there are simple teachings of Christ we must continue. These cannot be suspended, compromised or ignored – no matter what our life circumstance might be.

We must continue to love one another. As we have opportunity, we may need to take people in who need a place to say. Prisoners need the gospel and need our companionship and encouragement. And, “marriage” must be “held in honor among all,” no matter how culture defies its’ sanctity. One reason is, “God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.” Culture cannot change this. Media can celebrate immorality on the screen. BUT that doesn’t change the tragedy of sexual immorality, nor does it dismiss the sanctity of marriage.

Instead of coveting, this passage calls upon us to trust in God, who has said to us: “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

I want to stress, no matter what the Christian’s life circumstance – however hard or easy, however painful or comfortable – these are simple teachings of Christ, never to be given up or neglected. And, as we faithfully engage in these, we can say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not fear, what can man do to me.”

Source: Spiritual Disciplines For the Christian Life
By Donald S. Whitney

The mental picture we have of the Pony Express probably compares with the one imagined by the young men of 1860 who read that newspaper ad. Scenes of excitement, camaraderie, and the thrill of adventure filled their heads as they swaggered over to the Express office to apply. Yet few of them envisioned that excitement would only occasionally punctuate the routine of the long, hard hours and loneliness of the work. The Discipline of serving is like that. Although no more spiritually grand and noble way of life can be found than living in response to Christ’s summons to serve, the daily realities of such a life often appear as lowly and pedestrian as washing someone’s feet.

The proper preparation for the coming Day of the Lord is service rather than speculation. Human beings are naturally curious, especially about the future. Add God to the mix, and it is easy to understand why speculation about the return of Jesus is so attractive and fascinating to so many people. But while it might seem like a harmless activity, there are several potential negative aspects associated with it. Since no one knows when Jesus will return, speculation about when he will return is largely a waste of time, time that could be better invested in more productive activities.

Source: Holmes, Michael W.. 1 and 2 Thessalonians: The NIV Application Commentary from Biblical Text to Contemporary Life . Zondervan Academic. Kindle Edition.